Niger kicks out the French ambassador

As it prepares for a potential ECOWAS invasion, Niamey denounced unfriendly activities by Paris.

Sylvain Itte, the French ambassador, was given 48 hours by the Nigerian military government on Friday to leave the nation. The decision was explained by Itte’s failure to accept their invitation to a conference and “other actions of the French Government contrary to the interests of Niger.”

A month after President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by the former French colony’s military, under the command of Brigadier General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the ambassador was expelled. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in response sanctioned Niger and threatened to use force to “restore democracy.”

While neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso warned they would view such an intervention as an act of war against them, Guinea refused to agree to the sanctions. Late on Thursday, Niger gave the two neighbours permission to defend it in the event that ECOWAS invaded.

According to a joint statement from their foreign ministries, “the three countries have agreed to grant each other facilities for mutual assistance in matters of defence and security in the event of aggression or terrorist attacks.”

Abdoulaye Diop, the foreign minister of Mali, and Olivia Rouamba, his counterpart from Burkina Faso, both denounced the “illegal, illegitimate, and inhumane” sanctions that ECOWAS and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) had placed on Niger.

The sanctions have caused “serious socio-economic crises” in the nation, but according to ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray, they were “for the interest of the people of Niger.”

ECOWAS continues to dispatch diplomatic missions to Niamey while making repeated announcements about its finalised military action plans. On Thursday, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who also serves as the bloc’s chair, sent a group of Islamic leaders to Niger.

General Tchiani earlier this week announced a plan to return to civilian control that would take “no longer than three years,” but he also issued a warning to France and other countries not to meddle in Niger’s internal affairs.

The offer was rejected by ECOWAS, which demanded that Bazoum be immediately reinstated. Touray stated to the AP on Friday that the military option was “still on the table.”