The coup plotters who seized power in the African country of Niger last month say the French ambassador no longer has diplomatic immunity. The junta allegedly gave instructions to the police to deport Sylvain Itté. The visas of the ambassador and his family have been revoked.
The French government said in a response on Thursday that the people behind the military coup in Niger have “no authority” to ask the French ambassador to leave. The French foreign ministry said it is constantly monitoring the security of the embassy in Niger.
The new Nigerien foreign minister gave the French ambassador 48 hours on Friday to leave the country. Itté did not respond to that then. France does not recognize the coup plotters as the official government of Niger and supports deposed President Mohamed Bazoum.
Niger was a colony of France until 1960. Since the coup, demonstrators regularly target the former colonial power. At the end of July, the French embassy in the capital Niamey was attacked by demonstrators supporting the coup. They were unable to penetrate the embassy complex, but they did destroy windows and set a door on fire. France then evacuated hundreds of civilians from Niger.
