Despite an ultimatum, French French will remain in Niger: Paris would support ECOWAS military action -Macron

Macron is adamant that France would not budge from its stance of denouncing the coup and supporting the ouster of President Bazoum.

President Emmanuel Macron has stated that the French ambassador to Niger will remain there despite efforts from the leaders of a recent coup to do otherwise.

On Monday, he also reaffirmed France’s support for the deposed president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, whose refusal to resign Macron praised. Additionally, Macron stated that Paris would back any military action taken in Niger by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The French president acknowledged that French envoy Sylvain Itte was listening in from Niamey, the capital of Niger, despite being given a 48-hour deadline to leave the country last Friday. He was speaking to ambassadors gathered in Paris for a significant speech on foreign policy.

“I salute your colleague and your colleagues who are listening from their positions,” he said. “France and its ambassadors have confronted exceptionally tough conditions in several countries in recent months, from Sudan, where France has been exemplary, to Niger at this very moment.

Bazoum was overthrown on July 26 and is currently being held at the presidential palace along with his family in a coup that has been denounced by France and the majority of Niger’s neighbours.

In the event that diplomatic efforts to reach a settlement with the coup leaders fail, ECOWAS has stated that it is prepared to send soldiers to restore constitutional order.

The French ambassador was given 48 hours to depart, according to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which stated that he had refused to meet with the country’s new leaders and had done so because doing so was “contrary to the interests of Niger”.

Macron stressed that France will not budge from its position of denouncing the coup and supporting Bazoum, emphasising that he had been chosen democratically.

“I believe that our policy is sound. It is based on the fortitude of President Bazoum and the dedication of our ambassador there, who has remained despite all the pressure and all the declarations made by the illegitimate authorities, according to Macron.

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES