Niger's military regime expels French ambassador

The military regime that took power in Niger on July 26 ordered the French ambassador to leave the country within 48 hours on Friday, the African country's foreign ministry announced in a statement.

Due to "the refusal of the ambassador (...) of responding to an invitation "from the ministry" for an interview" and "other actions of the French government contrary to the interest of Niger," the authorities "decided to withdraw his credentials" and "ask him to leave the Nigerien territory within 48 hours," the bulletin notes.

The French foreign ministry responded that "the coup plotters do not have the authority to make this request" and that "the ambassador's permission only depends on the elected legitimate Nigerien authorities."

Anti-French statements and demonstrations have multiplied in the country since the overthrow of democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum.

The new regime accuses the former colonial power of preparing a military intervention to return power to Bazoum and of pulling the strings of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which accentuates the pressure on Niamey.

This entity imposed harsh economic and financial sanctions on Niger, and threatens to resort to force to restore constitutional order.

Some 1,500 French military personnel are deployed in Niger, as part of the fight against jihadist groups that have been operating in the Sahel region for years.