The soldiers who took power at the end of July in Niamey decided on Friday to expel the French ambassador to Niger, giving him 48 hours to leave, a decision immediately rejected by Paris for which the “putschists have no authority” for this TO DO.
The decision taken by the soldiers in Niamey is the culmination of a month of demonstrations, decisions and declarations hostile to French policy.
The Nigerien Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that in the face of “the refusal of the French ambassador in Niamey to respond to the invitation (…) for an interview” on Friday “and other actions by the French government contrary to the interests of the Niger”, the authorities “decided to withdraw their approval from Mr. Sylvain Itté and to ask him to leave Nigerien territory within forty-eight hours”.
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded by stating that “the putschists do not have the authority to make this request, the ambassador’s approval emanating only from the legitimate elected Nigerien authorities”, those of President Mohamed Bazoum overthrown on July 26.
A position shared by Hassoumi Massoudou, head of diplomacy for Mr. Bazoum, who on X (ex-Twitter) “recalls that the ambassador is accredited to the elected President”.
The decision to expel the ambassador follows a series of statements, decisions and demonstrations hostile to France since the coup against Mr. Bazoum, still detained with part of his family.
The military regime in particular accused Paris of wanting to intervene militarily in Niger to put Mr. Bazoum back in place and claimed that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was an organization “in the pay” of France. , a former colonial power in the region.
ECOWAS imposed heavy economic and financial sanctions on Niger after the coup and threatened the military regime to use armed force to restore constitutional order.
France is deploying 1,500 men to Niger who were helping the regime of President Bazoum to fight against the jihadist groups which have been bloodying this country and a large part of the Sahel for years.
On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron once again called for the “restoration of constitutional order” in Niger and the release of President Bazoum. “This coup is a blow against democracy in Niger, against the people of Niger and against the fight against terrorism,” he said.
Four days after the coup, hundreds of supporters of the military who took power demonstrated in front of the French embassy in Niamey, causing damage there.
The demonstrators were dispersed with tear gas and the regime accused Paris of using weapons, which the French government categorically denied.
On August 3, the new masters of Niamey denounced a series of military agreements with France, a decision that Paris ignored, recognizing only Mohamed Bazoum as Niger’s legitimate ruler.
Organizations hostile to the French military presence indicated this week that they intended to demonstrate from September 3 in front of the French military base in Niamey to demand the departure of the soldiers.
The military also accused France of having repeatedly violated its closed airspace by decision of the regime, and of having “released terrorists”, which according to them constitutes “a real plan to destabilize (their) country”. . Accusations again vigorously denied by Paris.
Several demonstrations of support for the soldiers who took power were each time punctuated by slogans hostile to France and ECOWAS, Russia – which benefits from hostility towards Paris in the Sahel – being praised and applauded.
Military Niger follows in the footsteps of Mali and Burkina Faso, where there is no longer a French ambassador.
These two countries, also led since 2020 and 2022 by soldiers who have taken power by force and faced with jihadist violence, have shown solidarity with the generals of Niamey, saying they are ready to fight alongside the Nigerien army in the event of an emergency. ECOWAS intervention.
25/08/2023 23:02:58 – Niamey (Niger) (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
