Niger’s junta ordered, on Friday, French Ambassador Sylvain Itte to leave the country within 48 hours, as relations between the West African country and the former colonial power are becoming more strained.
The Nigerien foreign ministry said in a statement that the decision to expel the ambassador was made in response to measures by the French government that “run counter to the interests of Niger,” such as the French envoy’s unwillingness to meet with Niger’s new foreign minister.
A group of Nigerien soldiers led by Col. Amadou Abdramane announced a coup d’état on July 26, declaring that they had dissolved the constitution, suspended all institutions, and closed the country’s borders.
Niger’s junta declared on Aug. 4, the decision to scrap cooperation agreements in the field of security and defense with France, and expulse French troops from its territory.
The military junta also banned French foreign news networks France 24 and Radio France Internationale from broadcasting in Niger.
The military takeover in Niger, like recent coups in neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali, occurred amid a growing tide of anti-French sentiment, with some people accusing France of intervening in their domestic affairs.