PARIS: France said Friday that Niger’s military rulers have no authority” to ask its envoy in Niamey to leave the country.
AFP quoted the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying the envoy’s approval comes exclusively from the legitimate and elected Nigerien authorities.
France Says Niger Military Rulers Have no Authority’ to Expel Envoy
The new development comes as Niger’s military rulers have given the French envoy 48 hours to leave the country. In a statement, Niger’s Foreign Minister said faced with “the denial of the French envoy in Niamey to reply to an invitation” from the minister for a talk Friday and “other acts of the French government contrary to Niger’s interest”, the officials have decided to withdraw their approval of Sylvain Itte and ask the ambassador to leave within 48 hours, the statement maintained.
France has about 1,500 military personnel stationed in Niger to aid in fighting militant groups that have plagued the nations along with the region for years.
The military rulers of Niger blame France of wanting to intervene militarily in the African country to restore deposed President Bazoum and says that the Economic Community of West African States is an alliance in the pocket of former colonial power. The alliance has threatened the use of military force to reinstate the President and constitutional order.
Niger government had also allowed Burkina Faso and Mali’s armed forces to enter its territory in case of an invasion, the three nations said in a joint statement on Thursday, a likely sign the military regime in Niger plans to stand down regional pressure.
On Thursday, the three nations’ foreign ministers said they had met in Niamey to discuss boosting coordination and cooperation on security matters.
The statement said the ministers lauded the signing on Thursday by Niger leader General Abdourahamane Tiani of two orders “allowing the Defense and Security Forces of Mali and Burkina Faso to interfere on Nigerian territory in case of an attack.”
