Escalating Diplomatic Standoff: Niger Orders Five Ambassadors to Leave Amidst National Sovereignty Dispute

2023-08-25 23:24:15

At the end of the day on Friday, the Nigerien authorities gave the French ambassador in Niamey 48 hours to leave the country. Following France’s refusal to recall its ambassador to Niamey and to withdraw its troops from Niger, the military headquarters decided to place the Nigerien army on high alert. This decision comes as the Nigerien population sees the French refusal as a de facto occupation, claiming that only the people of Niger have the right to decide on the legitimacy of their rulers.

Faced with this explosive situation, the military council of Niger took a radical decision. The ambassadors of five countries, namely France, Germany, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and the United States, were asked to leave Niger within 48 hours.

The move comes following a similar letter was sent to the French envoy on Friday, ordering him to leave the country within 48 hours. But France has declared that “the coup leaders in Niger have no authority” to expel its ambassador to Niamey.

“The putschists do not have the competence to formulate this request, the agreement of the ambassador coming only from the legitimate elected authorities of Niger”, declared Paris, adding: “We are constantly evaluating the security and the operating conditions of our embassy. “.

These drastic measures testify to the deep discordance that now reigns between the Nigerien government and several foreign powers and those of ECOWAS. Diplomatic relations are seriously shaken, and the decision of the Military Council to force the ambassadors to leave marks a significant escalation in this diplomatic standoff.

In a press release, the American State Department specifies that no request has been submitted by Niger to Washington asking the American ambassador to leave Niamey. Remember that the new American ambassador to Niger, Kathleen Fitzgibbons, had only arrived in Niamey at the beginning of the month.

At the heart of this diplomatic dispute, we find the categorical refusal of France to recall its ambassador to Niamey and to withdraw its troops from Niger. The population of Niger considers this refusal as an attack on their national sovereignty and accuses France of occupation.

The Niger authorities recall that only the people of Niger have the right to decide on the legitimacy of their rulers and reject any foreign interference in the internal affairs of the country. Tensions rose a notch to the point that the military staff deemed it necessary to put the Nigerien army on high alert.

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