Despite the expired ultimatum
French ambassador stays in Niger
08/28/2023, 5:45 p.m
French Ambassador Sylvain Itté is still in the country after Nigerien putschists issued an exit order. France considers the claim to be unjustified. President Macron speaks in Paris about the problems caused by putschists.
Despite an expired ultimatum by the putschists, the French ambassador is still in Niger. This was confirmed by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. Ambassador Sylvain Itté will stay despite the pressure, he stressed. The putschists had said Itté had 48 hours to leave the country.
Macron stressed that France does not recognize the putschists. The Foreign Ministry had also said that the putschists were not entitled to demand the ambassador’s departure because his accreditation came from the elected Nigerien representatives. Macron said with regard to Niger that France supports the diplomatic – and should it be decided – military action of the West African community of states ECOWAS.
Macron called the ousted President Mohamed Bazoum courageous and courageous. “Nigerians’ current problem is putschists who are putting them at risk because they are abandoning the fight against terrorism, because they are abandoning policies that have been good for them economically, and because they are about to lose all international funding that… allowed them to come out of poverty,” he said.
About a month ago, the Presidential Guard deposed in a military coup in the Niger Bazoum. The commander of the elite unit, General Abdourahamane Tiani, subsequently proclaimed himself the new ruler and suspended the constitutional order. For France, Niger was recently an important partner in its anti-terrorist fight in the Sahel. Paris has about 2,500 troops stationed in Niger and neighboring Chad.