France’s ambassador to Niger returns to Paris amid tensions with post-coup regime
France’s ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itte, has returned to Paris after leaving Niamey due to weeks of tensions between Paris and the post-coup regime in the West African country, according to the French foreign ministry.
The ambassador’s return to Paris follows the coup in Niger that occurred two months ago, which ousted the pro-Paris president and strained relations between France and its former colony.
The new leaders of Niger had demanded the departure of Ambassador Itte.
In a written statement to AFP, the French foreign ministry noted that Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna had met with Ambassador Itte “to thank him and his teams for his work in the service of our country under difficult conditions”.
Following the coup on July 26, when the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown, Niger’s military leaders had instructed Ambassador Itte to leave the country, revoking his diplomatic immunity and visa.
However, a 48-hour ultimatum issued in August for his departure went unanswered, as the French government refused to comply or recognize the military regime as legitimate.
Paris had maintained that only Bazoum’s ousted government could order the ambassador’s removal. Still, in a TV interview on Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Ambassador Itte would leave “in the next hours,” though he provided no specific details.
Macron reaffirmed his support for Bazoum on Wednesday, stating that France would continue to work “for a return to the constitutional order in Niger,” in a conversation with Hassoumi Massaoudou, the foreign minister in the overthrown government.
