Jakarta –
The ruling military junta Niger expel the ambassador French from the country. The military junta gave French ambassador Sylvain Itte 48 hours to leave Niger, the Niger Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Friday (25/8) local time.
“In the face of the refusal of the French ambassador in Niamey to respond to the foreign minister’s invitation to a meeting on Friday and other actions by the French government that are contrary to the interests of Niger, the authorities have decided to withdraw their consent to Sylvain Itte and ask him to leave within 48 hours, ” said the statement as reported by the news agency AFPSaturday (26/8/2023).
This decision follows a series of statements and demonstrations hostile to France since Niger’s military overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, who has since been detained with his family.
Niger’s military leaders accuse the French government of wanting to intervene militarily in Niger to return Bazoum to power. The Junta of Niger also claims that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is an organization within the French enclave.
ECOWAS has imposed tough economic sanctions on Niger after cout d’etat and threatening the use of force to restore constitutional order.
France has about 1,500 troops stationed in Niger to help fight the extremist groups that have been in the country, as well as the wider Sahel region, for years.
The leader of Niger’s military junta has vowed to “bring to justice” President Mohamed Bazoum on charges of “high treason” and “undermining the security” of the country. Bazoum was removed from the presidency of Niger in a military coup that was launched last July.
(it/it)
2023-08-26 06:09:23
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