Niger Coup Leader Expels Nigerian, German, US Ambassadors? Fresh Facts Emerge
- The Niger Republic military government has dismissed reports of expelling German, United States, or Nigerian ambassadors
- The military junta said only the French ambassador, Sylvain Itte, was ordered to leave the country within 48 hours
- The Niger coup leader accused Itte of refusing to respond to an invitation to meet the foreign minister
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Niger Republic, Niamey- The military government in the Niger Republic has reacted to the report that it ordered German, United States and Nigerian ambassadors to leave the country.
The Niger coup leader denied the widely circulated reports, stating that only the French ambassador, Sylvain Itte, was ordered to leave the country, AA reported.
Source: Getty Images
Niger denies expelling Nigerian ambassador
“Only the French ambassador in Niger is declared persona non grata,” the military junta said.
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This was contained in a statement issued late Friday, August 25, by the foreign ministry.
Itte was accused of refusing to respond to an invitation to meet Niger's foreign minister.
The French Foreign Ministry said the coup plotter had no authority to expel the ambassador, hence rejecting the move to remove Itte.
According to the statement, the landlocked West African country said that:
“Niger does not need authorisation or an interpretation of the Vienna Convention of 1961” to order the ambassador’s expulsion within 24 hours."
Niger coup leader expels French ambassador
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the coup leader in Niger Republic had ordered French ambassador Sylvain Itte to leave the country within 48 hours.
The foreign ministry disclosed this in a statement on Friday, August 25.
According to the statement, the decision was taken partly due to Itte’s refusal to respond to an invitation to a meeting with the minister of foreign affairs.
France evacuates citizens from Niger Republic
France has announced the evacuation of its citizens and other European nationals from the Niger Republic following the dramatic coup by the military.
The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement, adding that the evacuation commences today, Tuesday, August 1.
“Only legitimate Niger govt can cut military ties” - France
The crisis in Niamey, Niger Republic, worsened on Friday, August 4, as France rejected the Niger junta’s move to cut off bilateral military ties with Nigeria, France, and other countries.
The French foreign ministry maintained that the West African country’s “legitimate” leadership alone was entitled to do so.
Source: Legit.ng
