Emmanuel Macron ledFrench government has sternly rebuffed the demands of Niger’s coup leaders, firmly asserting that their “putschists have no authority” to issue directives to the French ambassador in Niamey.
It will be recalled that the Niger Junta has given the French ambassador in the country 48 hours to leave the country.
The military faction, which seized control in Niger on July 26, had taken the audacious step of granting the French ambassador, Sylvain Itte, an ultimatum of 48 hours to vacate the nation.
“The request made by the putschists has been duly acknowledged by France,” the French Ministry told AFP.
However, France promptly dismissed this appeal, underscoring that the coup leaders hold no legitimacy in making such a demand.
The appointment and presence of the ambassador, as emphasized, are solely under the jurisdiction of the duly elected and legitimate authorities of Niger.
The statement from France said, “The putschists do not have the authority to make this request, the ambassador’s approval coming solely from the legitimate elected Nigerien authorities.”
With unwavering resolve, the French Ministry further iterated that their embassy’s operational status and security considerations remain under constant assessment. It went further saying “We are constantly evaluating the security and operating conditions of our embassy,”
Be first to comment