France – Niger

Despite an ultimatum from Niger’s military junta, France’s ambassador is to remain in the country, President Emmanuel Macron said in a speech to diplomats on Monday. On Friday, Niger’s foreign ministry gave the French ambassador, Sylvain Itte, 48 hours to leave Niger. On Monday, with the support of Macron, he remained in the country and once again expressed support for Niger’s now captured president, Mohamed Bazoum. Bazoum was forced from power by a coup on July 26. “I think our policy is the right one,” Macron said. “It builds on the courage of President Bazoum and on the commitments of our ambassador to the country, who remains there despite the pressure and announcements from the illegitimate authorities,” the president continued.
     France – the former colonial power in Niger – has unsuccessfully called on the military junta to reinstate Bazoum. The association of West African countries ECOWAS has said it is ready to send troops into Niger if diplomatic solutions to the conflict are not achieved. Niger is the fourth country in western Africa to suffer a coup since 2020. Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso are the other three countries. The juntas of Burkina Faso and Mali have said that any military intervention in their neighbouring country would be considered a “declaration of war” against their countries. /ritzau/Reuters/