NIAMEY, Niger: Niger’s coup leaders Thursday evening announced they were terminating the mandates of ambassadors to as many as four countries as they face international pressure to restore the democratically elected leader they ousted in a coup last week.
“The functions of the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassadors of the Republic of Niger” to France, Nigeria, Togo and the United States “are terminated”, one of the putschists announced in a statement read on national television.
The junta faces international pressure to restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, with threats of force by regional bloc; the Economic Community of West African States, currently chaired by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
Military chiefs of the bloc’s member countries met in Nigeria on Wednesday for three days of consultations.
United States and former colonial power France, which have about 1,000 and 1,500 troops in the country respectively are leading the global condemnation from outside the continent. —AFP/APP
