The French ambassador to Niger is asked to leave the country, the putschists having put an end to his diplomatic immunity. In a letter addressed to Paris, consulted on Thursday August 31, the soldiers had indeed ordered his expulsion from Niamey. This follows the expiry of an ultimatum addressed to Sylvain Itté, the diplomat appointed to the French embassy in Niger. The military, in power for over a month, “educated the police.” The expulsion of the ambassador is therefore recorded. Friday, August 25, the military in power had given 48 hours to the French diplomat to leave the territory, which the Élysée had refused.
According to this letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated Tuesday, Ambassador Sylvain Itté “no longer enjoys the privileges and immunities attached to his status as a member of the diplomatic staff of the French Embassy”.
His “diplomatic cards and visas” as well as those of his family members “are cancelled”, the letter states, adding that the Nigerien police services “are instructed to proceed with the expulsion” of Sylvain Itté.
At the end of this period, Sylvain Itté, whose work Emmanuel Macron praised on Tuesday, was still in post in Niamey.
