The junta in Niger, which seized power in a coup on July 26, has demanded that the French ambassador, Sylvain Itte, leave the country within 48 hours. This expulsion comes as relations between Niger and its former colonial ruler, France, continue to deteriorate.
Similar to recent coups in neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali, the military takeover in Niger has been accompanied by a growing wave of anti-French sentiment. Some locals accuse France of interfering in their affairs.
In a statement, the junta-appointed foreign ministry explained that the decision to expel the ambassador was a response to actions taken by the French government that were “contrary to the interests of Niger.” One of these actions was the envoy’s refusal to meet Niger’s new foreign minister.
The French foreign ministry has not yet responded to the request for comment.
Official-looking statements were widely shared online on Friday, suggesting that Niger had also ordered the U.S. and German ambassadors to leave the country. However, the U.S. State Department confirmed that this was not issued by Niger’s foreign ministry, stating that no such request had been made to the U.S. government.
According to sources within the junta and the Nigerien security, only the French ambassador has been asked to leave. This coup has strained Niger’s long-standing relationship with France, raising concerns about the future of joint military efforts to combat Islamist insurgency in the conflict-ridden Sahel region.
France has called for the reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum and expressed support for ECOWAS’ intervention to reverse the coup.
France has also not officially recognized the junta’s decision in early August to revoke several military agreements with France, arguing that these agreements were signed with Niger’s “legitimate authorities.”
The strained relations between Niger and France mirror the post-coup developments in Mali and Burkina Faso, where French forces have been expelled and longstanding ties have been severed.
Niger holds strategic importance as one of the world’s largest uranium producers and as a base for foreign troops, including those from France and the United States, participating in the fight against Islamist militant groups in the region.
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