French president Emmanuel Macron has said that France’s ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itte is still staying at his post in the country despite being asked to leave by the ruling junta.
Macron while addressing a conference of ambassadors in Paris, including Itte, who was attending virtually on Monday, insisted that France is not Niger’s enemy, a report by i24News says.
Last Friday, Itte was ordered to leave Niger within 48 hours, after refusing to meet with the coup leaders who toppled Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum in late July.
Niger’s foreign ministry said that French government actions were “contrary to the interests of Niger."
Earlier on Monday, it was reported that local authorities had cut off the water and electricity to the French embassy in Niamey, even as Itte, along with at least 20 diplomats, were still located there.
Soldiers and police officers also allegedly threatened to remove the diplomats by force if they did not agree to leave.
"France and its diplomats have faced particularly difficult situations in some countries in recent months, from Sudan, where France has been exemplary, to Niger at this very moment, and I applaud your colleague and your colleagues who are listening from their posts," Macron said during the conference
France has condemned the coup and refused to recognize the junta now ruling over the former colony. Macron insisted that Paris would not change its position, and offered support to the ousted president, stressing Bazoum had been democratically elected and was "courageous" in his refusal to resign.
"Our policy is clear: we do not recognize the putschists," he said.
“Our policy is the right one. It depends on the courage of President Mohamed Bazoum, the commitment of our diplomats, of our ambassador on the ground who is remaining despite pressure.
“One shouldn’t give in to the narrative used by the coup leaders that consists of saying France has become our enemy.
“The problem of Nigeriens today is the coup leaders who put them in danger because they are abandoning the fight against terrorism, because they are abandoning a policy that was economically good for (the population) and they are in the process of losing international funding that was helping them emerge from poverty.”