On Sunday, September 3, 2023, thousands of protesters in Niger demanded the withdrawal of French troops, as requested by the junta that took power in July.
Slaughter France! Protesters in Niamey have been chanting “France, get out” (France, leave) since the coup d’etat on July 26.
Niger citizens rally in favor of law and order in response to the French ambassador.
The military junta unleashed a fresh verbal barrage.
On Friday, Niger’s military administration launched a new verbal assault against France, accusing the country of “blatant interference” for supporting the deposed president of Niger.
Since then, tens of thousands of people have gathered at a roundabout near the Niger military installation where French soldiers are stationed to demonstrate against the presence of French troops in the country.
After receiving threats, Algeria has dispatched officials to Niger for peaceful negotiations.
After Paris supported the deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum, relations with France, the country’s former colonial power and ally in the fight against jihadism, quickly deteriorated. The administration stated on August 3 that it was terminating military relations with France, which now has some 1,500 troops stationed in the nation.
Military leaders in Niger made the announcement.
The military junta in charge of Niger has also said that they will be revoking French Ambassador Sylvain Itte’s diplomatic immunity and “expelling” him from the country. They claimed he was a danger to public safety.
Niger has a press freedom demonstration attended by African media leaders.
Even though Itte had been given 48 hours to leave Niger, French President Emmanuel Macron praised his efforts there on Monday. France defended its decision to keep its ambassador in the country on Sunday.
“He is our representative to the legitimate authorities in Niger,” Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told Le Monde.She continued, saying, “We don’t have to bow to the injunctions of a minister who has no legitimacy,” before promising, “that he can face the pressure from the putschists in complete safety” because to Paris’s efforts.
Agence France-Presse bur-pid/pvh/jj
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