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France has said that the Niger junta has no authority to expel its ambassador, Sylvain Itte, from the country.
The Niger military issued a 48-hour ultimatum on Friday, directing Sylvain Itte to leave the country due to his refusal to meet with the junta-appointed foreign minister.
In response, the French Foreign Ministry criticized the actions taken by the Niger government, asserting that they were not in the best interests of Niger.
However, France has pushed back against the Niger junta’s attempt to expel its ambassador from Niamey. According to Deutsche Welle, France stated that the “putschists,” referring to the military coup leaders, lack the authority to demand the expulsion of their ambassador.
Paris emphasized that the ambassador’s appointment is solely sanctioned by the legitimately elected authorities of Niger. France also noted, “We are continually assessing the security and operational circumstances of our embassy.”
French President Emmanuel Macron had previously called for the release of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum, who was detained on July 26, 2023, during a military coup orchestrated by Abdourahamane Tchiani, the former commander of Niger’s presidential guard.
Macron also urged a restoration of democratic governance in Niger, a nation that was formerly a French colony but experienced the overthrow of its elected leadership in a military coup in July.