Niger’s military junta has ordered French ambassador Sylvain Itte to leave the country within 48 hours, as relations between the West African country and its former colonial ruler deteriorated further.
Key points:
- Niger’s government was overthrown on July 26 by the country’s military leaders
- The coup came amid growing animosity towards France, Niger’s former colonial ruler
- Statements appearing to give similar deadlines to German and US ambassadors were dismissed as fake
The military junta overthrew Niger’s government on July 26.
Like recent coups in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, the military takeover in Niger came amid a growing wave of anti-French sentiment, with some locals accusing the European country of interfering in their affairs.
In a statement, the junta-appointed foreign ministry said the decision to expel the ambassador was a response to actions taken by the French government that were “contrary to the interests of Niger”.
It said these included the envoy’s refusal to respond to an invitation to meet Niger’s new foreign minister.
The French foreign ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Statements that appeared to be official were shared widely online on Friday appearing to show Niger ordering the US and German ambassadors to leave the country in similar terms to the statement about the French envoy.
The US State Department on Friday said Niger had informed it this had not been issued by its foreign ministry. “No such request has been made to the US government,” it said.
A source in the junta and a Nigerien security source said only the French ambassador had been asked to leave.
Tension with France builds
The coup has pushed Niger’s long-standing relationship with France to breaking-point and this latest move raises further doubts about the future of joint military efforts to fight an Islamist insurgency in the conflict-torn Sahel region.
France has called for ousted president Mohamed Bazoum to be returned to office and has said it would support efforts by West African regional bloc ECOWAS to overturn the coup.
It has also not officially recognised a decision by the junta in early August to revoke a raft of military agreements with France, saying these had been signed with Niger’s “legitimate authorities”.
The deterioration in Niger-France relations echoes post-coup developments in Mali and Burkina Faso, which have booted out French forces and severed long-standing ties.
Niger has strategic significance as one of the world’s biggest producers of uranium and as a base for French, US and other foreign troops that are helping to fight Islamist militant groups in the region.
Sanctions begin to bite
The main West African bloc ECOWAS has been trying to negotiate with Niger’s coup leaders but warned it was ready to send troops into Niger to restore constitutional order if diplomatic efforts failed.
Sanctions by ECOWAS have led to food and aid piling up at Niger’s border.
On Wednesday, the African Union had suspended Niger from all its activities, telling its members to avoid any action that might legitimise the junta.
The coup has caused alarm among Western allies and democratic African states, who fear it could allow Islamist groups active in the Sahel region to expand their reach and give Russia a foothold to increase its influence.
Reuters