The military in power in Niger raised their voice against France by announcing that they had “instructed” the police services of the need to expel the French ambassador in Niamey, after Paris’ refusal to comply with an ultimatum demanding its departure.
According to a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Niger, addressed to Paris and dated Tuesday, Ambassador Sylvain Itté “no longer enjoys the privileges and immunities attached to his status as a member of the diplomatic staff of the French embassy”.
His “diplomatic cards and visas” as well as those of his family members “are cancelled”, specifies the letter, adding that the Nigerien police services “are instructed to proceed with his expulsion”.
Friday evening, the military in power had given 48 hours to the French diplomat to leave the territory, which Paris refused, arguing that this government was illegitimate and had no authority to base such a request.
When this deadline expired, Mr. Itté, whose work Emmanuel Macron praised on Tuesday, was still stationed in Niamey and no unusual movement was observed this week around the embassy.
On Thursday, the spokesperson for the French general staff, Colonel Pierre Gaudillière, warned that “French military forces are ready to respond to any increase in tension which would undermine French military and diplomatic influence in Niger” and that “provisions have been made to protect these rights of way”.
– “Irregular situation” –
The Patriotic Front for the Sovereignty of Niger (FPSN), an organization created in the aftermath of the July 26 putsch and hostile to the French military presence in Niger, on Wednesday described Mr. Itté as a “French citizen in an irregular situation”
“He can stay as long as he wants in the embassy grounds because he is a French citizen and the embassy is a portion of French territory (…) but when he leaves (…) ) inform the police authorities responsible for repressing immigration,” declared Ibrahim Bana, a leader of this movement who also called for “not to take any (violent) action” against the diplomat.
The question of the departure of the 1,500 soldiers based in Niamey to help Niger in its anti-jihadist fight also arises.
On August 3, the ruling generals denounced a series of military agreements with France, a move that Paris also ignored, recognizing only ousted President Mohamed Bazoum as Niger’s legitimate leader.
The FPSN has increased calls to participate “massively” next Saturday in a march followed by a sit-in near the French military base in Niamey “until the departure” of the French soldiers.
– Burkinabe contingent –
More than a month after the July 26 coup, Niger remains under threat of military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to restore constitutional order.
On Thursday, the Burkinabè government approved a bill authorizing the sending of a military contingent to Niger, without specifying the modalities.
Last week, Niger’s new strongman, General Abdourahamane Tiani, signed a decree authorizing the armed forces of Burkina Faso and Mali to intervene on Nigerien soil “in the event of aggression or external armed destabilization.”
Mali and Burkina Faso, two neighboring countries also led by soldiers who took power by force in 2020 and 2022, have displayed their solidarity with the new Nigerien authorities.
The two countries had thus warned ECOWAS against any intervention in Niger, which would be considered a “declaration of war”.
However, the diplomatic solution still remains on the table. Algeria notably proposed to Niger on Tuesday a “six-month transition plan” before a return to constitutional order.
The generals in power in Niamey had meanwhile mentioned a transition of three years maximum.
Source: Burkina Information Agency