France’s ambassador to Niger is staying put in the West African country in defiance of an ultimatum by its military rulers ordering his exit within 48 hours on Friday.
French envoy Sylvain Itte was asked to leave by the junta for refusing to attend a meeting scheduled with Niger’s foreign minister, including “other actions by the French government that are against Niger’s interest,” the Nigerien foreign ministry said last week. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that Itte will not leave Niger, despite the expiration of the junta’s deadline.
Up to 1,500 French soldiers are stationed in Niger, which has been a major partner of the French in the Sahel region. The European Union also expressed its “full support” for the French ambassador Monday, stating that the decision of the junta to expel him “is a new provocation which can in no way help to find a diplomatic solution to the current crisis,” its spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy, Nabila Massrali, said.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
French ambassador stays in Niger, defying junta, as Macron defends French policyFrench President Emmanuel Macron says France’s ambassador is staying at his post in Niger despite being asked to leave by the ruling junta
Read more »
French ambassador stays in Niger, defying junta, as Macron defends French policyFrench President Emmanuel Macron says France’s ambassador is staying at his post in Niger despite being asked to leave by the ruling junta.
Read more »
The coup in Niger and what it means for West Africa and the worldThe West African country of Niger has been a bright spot of growing democracy and security across sub-Saharan Africa. Now, a coup there threatens to destabilize the region.
Read more »
How the Niger coup will affect the Sahel West African regionA series of recent coups across West Africa has demonstrated the emergence of an anti-Western political ‘ecosystem’, a trend that might further spread across the region, experts say.
Read more »
Frances Tiafoe welcoming pressure to lead next generation of US men’s tennisFrances Tiafoe is coming into the U.S. Open with the weight of the next generation of American men’s tennis behind him.
Read more »