Niger junta asks French ambassador to leave country in 48 hours

The military junta in Niger Republic has ordered Sylvain Itte, the French ambassador, to leave the country within 48 hours.

The country’s foreign ministry made the announcement in a statement on Friday.

According to the statement, the decision to expel the ambassador stemmed from his refusal to honour an invitation with Niger’s minister of foreign affairs.

The statement also added “other actions by the French government contrary to the interests of Niger” led to the ambassador’s withdrawal.

Although the foreign ministry did not provide details, the junta had accused French forces of freeing captured “terrorists” and breaching a ban on the air space in an attempt to destabilise the country.

The country’s military had also accused the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of aligning its troops with a foreign entity whom it did not mention.

France, the former colonial power in Niger, had condemned the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and called for an immediate return to constitutional order.