France has refused to comply with the demand of Niger’s military junta to withdraw its ambassador from the country within 48 hours. The ultimatum was issued on Friday, August 25, 2023, amid rising tensions between the former colonial power and the coup leaders who overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, 2023.
French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed in a speech on Monday that Ambassador Sylvain Itte had remained in Niger despite the deadline, and praised him for his courage. Macron also defended France’s military presence in Niger and other Sahel countries, saying that without French intervention, Niger would “no longer exist” with its “existing borders”.
The coup in Niger has been widely condemned by the international community, including the African Union and the West African regional bloc ECOWAS, which have suspended Niger’s membership and threatened to impose sanctions and military intervention if the junta does not restore constitutional order.
The coup leaders, led by Colonel Abdourahmane Tchiani, have proposed a three-year transition of power and warned that any foreign military intervention in Niger “will not be a walk in the park” for those involved. They have also authorized troops from neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, both of which have experienced coups in recent years, to come to their defense if attacked.
