On Sunday evening, the 48-hour deadline given by Niger to its French ambassador, Sylvain Etty, to leave the country expired.
No approach
According to local media, security has been tightened around the French Embassy in Niamey and no one has been allowed to approach the area.
Niger’s Foreign Ministry announced on Friday that the French ambassador had 48 hours to leave the country, saying he had refused to meet with the new rulers and citing the French government’s actions as “contrary to Niger’s interests”.
Cut off water and electricity
She threatened that if Etty did not leave the country, electricity and water might be cut off from the embassy premises.
On the other hand, France announced that it did not recognize the decision of the military administration and that Etty would remain in Niger.
Demonstrations calling for the departure of the French forces
In addition, thousands demonstrated Sunday in Niger in support of the coup that took place last month, a few hours before a deadline granted to the French ambassador to leave the country.
The demonstrators gathered near the French military base in the capital, Niamey, where some of them waved the flags of Niger and Russia, while others carried banners calling for the departure of the French forces.
There are still 1,500 French soldiers stationed in Niger, where they were helping ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in the fight against extremists.
Cancellation of cooperation agreements with France
It is noteworthy that the military administration that took power after the coup in Niger announced on July 26 the cancellation of the military cooperation agreements signed with France.
And in late July, the Nigerien army overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum.
Bazum overthrow
Elements of the presidential guard carried out a coup against Bazoum, who has been detained in his presidential residence since that time, and announced the suspension of the constitution and the formation of a “National Council for the Salvation of the Nation”, then a government that includes civilians and military personnel.
The military administration in Niger calls on Paris not to interfere in its internal politics, and accuses the government of ousted President Bazoum of being politically subservient to the French will.
