France has defended its decision to keep Ambassador Sylvain Itté in Niger following the military power grab, despite the new junta’s repeated demand that France withdraws him.
Niger’s Ministry of the Interior issued an order removing the diplomatic credentials of the French Ambassador and directing his expulsion on Thursday, backed up by an order of the Niamey High Court on Friday.
During an interview with “Le Monde” Journal on Sunday, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna asserted that Ambassador Itté is France’s representative to the “legitimate authorities” of Niger, and France has no obligation to comply with the injunctions issued by an illegitimate Minister.
On August 26, the Nigerien military junta issued a 48-hour deadline for Ambassador Itté to leave the country. France ignored the ultimatum, claiming that the junta lacked adequate authority to make such a request.
The junta’s demand for the ambassador’s removal followed a series of anti-democratic moves, among which were the dissolution of the Niger constitution, the suspension of Niger’s political institutions, and the closure of the country’s borders.
Nigeriens, who largely support the coup, took to the streets over the weekend, protesting and shouting slogans such as “France Dégage” (France get out), highlighting the country’s population’s growing anti-French anger, a sentiment that has been spreading of late all across Africa.