French Foreign Minister: The leader of the Niger coup did not act under the influence of Wagner, but Russia is the beneficiary
Al Arabiya.net – Agencies
Posted on: September 03, 2023: 10:06 PM GST Last updated: September 03, 2023: 10:43 PM GST
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said that the leader of the Niger coup did not act under the influence of the Russian “Wagner” group, but Russia is the ultimate beneficiary, continuing: “Russia saw in what happened an opportunity to make gains.”
And the French Foreign Minister confirmed that the Paris ambassador in Niamey will not leave on the orders of an illegal authority, in the latest French response to the request of the military council in Niger for the French ambassador in Niamey to leave the country.
Colonna stressed that France guarantees the safety of the French ambassador in Niamey despite the pressure of the putschists, noting that the French forces in Niger are there to support the fight against terrorist groups, while today they cannot carry out this task, she said.
A crisis has been going on between France and Niger for days because of the ambassador of Paris in Niamey. The spokesman for the military council in Niger said that the French forces should leave the country immediately, and the French ambassador should not stay in our country any longer, in order to avoid being expelled by force.
The spokesman for the military council in Niger, addressing the French ambassador in Niamey: “Who are you until you refuse to leave our country, and you must leave immediately, otherwise we will use force with you.”
The military council and the government in Niger had announced that French President Emmanuel Macron is forcing the ECOWAS group to adhere to the colonial project, pointing out that Macron’s statements are blatant interference and aim to create ethnic divisions.
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2023-09-03 18:06:00
