According to a statement issued by the Nigerien Foreign Ministry on Friday, August 25, Niger’s junta has ordered the French ambassador in Niamey to leave the nation within 48 hours.
The Foreign Ministry claimed in a statement released by Nigerien state-run radio ORTN that French Ambassador Sylvain Itte had refused to attend a meeting with the country’s foreign minister set for Friday.
In response to the refusal, Nigerien authorities withdrew Itte’s credentials, alleging “other actions by the French government that are against Niger’s interest.”
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“France has taken note of the putschists’ request,” the French Foreign Ministry told AFP late Friday.
“The putschists do not have the authority to make this demand, the ambassador’s approval comes only from the legitimate, elected Nigerien authorities,” the ministry said.
Separately, the US State Department stated in a late Friday statement that it had received information from Niger’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs that there were “images of letters circulating on the internet calling for the departure of certain American diplomatic personnel.”
However, it stated that these “were not issued by the ministry,” and that “no such request has been made to the US government.”