Niger’s military junta has revoked the diplomatic immunity of France’s ambassador and called on police to expel him from the West African country.
Meanwhile, the French government said it doesn’t recognize the coup plotters as the country’s legitimate leaders.
Earlier this week, Niger’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement that read Itte “no longer enjoys the privileges and immunities attached to his status as a member of the diplomatic staff of the embassy.”
The document also highlighted that the diplomatic cards and visas of the ambassador’s families have been canceled.
On his part, French President Emmanuel Macron said the envoy would remain in his post. Macron insisted that France, Niger’s former colonial rule, is not the country’s enemy.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced that it will deploy a standby force, hoping for a diplomatic solution to the situation in Niger.
Later on, France said it would support ECOWAS in restoring an appropriate government in Niger but also needs to protect its diplomatic staff.
Russia warned against military intervention in Niger, claiming that it would lead to a sharp destabilization of the situation in the Sahara-Sahel region as a whole.
“We believe that a military solution to the crisis in Niger could lead to a protracted confrontation in that African country, and to a sharp destabilization of the situation in the Sahara-Sahel region as a whole,” the statement read.
In previous remarks, the European Union (EU) criticized the worsening conditions of detained Bazoum and called for his immediate release after he was deposed in a coup.
“Mohamed Bazoum and his family, according to the latest information, have been deprived of food, electricity, and medical care for several days,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell revealed.
