FRANCE’S ambassador to Niger is still in the coup-hit Sahel country despite an ultimatum from the new army leaders to leave his post, French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday.

During a major foreign policy speech to ambassadors in Paris, Macron confirmed that French envoy Sylvain Itte was listening in from Niger capital Niamey despite being given a 48-hour deadline to leave the country last Friday.

Meanwhile, the European Union on Monday expressed its “full support” for the French ambassador to Niger, after the soldiers who seized power in the country demanded his departure.

“The decision of the putschists to expel the French ambassador is a new provocation which cannot in any way help to find a diplomatic solution to the current crisis,” said Nabila Massrali, EU spokeswoman for foreign affairs, adding that the EU “does not recognise” the authorities that seized power in Niger on July 26.

Niger leader’s party warns of post-coup bid to ‘divide’ it

Also, militants within Niger’s ex-ruling party have become embroiled in a campaign to divide it since the president was overthrown, the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS) said yesterday.

“Our party is the victim of a campaign to divide it”, based on “skilfully filtered rumours” on social media and in the press, the party said in a letter to its officials.

The letter admitted that the party’s own activists have been caught up in the campaign.

Social networks have suggested Bazoum’s predecessor Mahamadou Issoufou had a role in the coup.

“Totally false,” said Issoufou in an interview with Jeune Afrique magazine on August 17. He called for Bazoum to be restored to office.

Since the coup, the party has “faced several attacks aimed at weakening it”, the letter noted.

The attacks include bans on demonstrations and meetings which deprive it of “the classic means of struggle… to re-establish constitutional order” and set free Bazoum and his family, the letter added.

The day of the putsch, security forces dispersed a protest by Bazoum’s supporters.
The party urged its militants “not to allow yourselves to be… distracted by the lies and rumours Stay mobilised to fight against the putschists”.

“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,” he said.

Niger President Mohamed Bazoum was toppled on July 26 and has been detained along with his family at the presidential palace in a coup that has been condemned by France and most of Niger’s neighbours.

On Friday, the new Niger regime announced that French ambassador Itte had 48 hours to leave, saying he had refused to meet with the new rulers and citing French government actions that were “contrary to the interests of Niger”.

FRANCE’S ambassador to Niger is still in the coup-hit Sahel country despite an ultimatum from the new army leaders to leave his post, French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday.

During a major foreign policy speech to ambassadors in Paris, Macron confirmed that French envoy Sylvain Itte was listening in from Niger capital Niamey despite being given a 48-hour deadline to leave the country last Friday.

Meanwhile, the European Union on Monday expressed its “full support” for the French ambassador to Niger, after the soldiers who seized power in the country demanded his departure.

“The decision of the putschists to expel the French ambassador is a new provocation which cannot in any way help to find a diplomatic solution to the current crisis,” said Nabila Massrali, EU spokeswoman for foreign affairs, adding that the EU “does not recognise” the authorities that seized power in Niger on July 26.

Niger leader’s party warns of post-coup bid to ‘divide’ it

Also, militants within Niger’s ex-ruling party have become embroiled in a campaign to divide it since the president was overthrown, the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS) said yesterday.

“Our party is the victim of a campaign to divide it”, based on “skilfully filtered rumours” on social media and in the press, the party said in a letter to its officials.

The letter admitted that the party’s own activists have been caught up in the campaign.

Social networks have suggested Bazoum’s predecessor Mahamadou Issoufou had a role in the coup.

“Totally false,” said Issoufou in an interview with Jeune Afrique magazine on August 17. He called for Bazoum to be restored to office.

Since the coup, the party has “faced several attacks aimed at weakening it”, the letter noted.

The attacks include bans on demonstrations and meetings which deprive it of “the classic means of struggle… to re-establish constitutional order” and set free Bazoum and his family, the letter added.

The day of the putsch, security forces dispersed a protest by Bazoum’s supporters.
The party urged its militants “not to allow yourselves to be… distracted by the lies and rumours Stay mobilised to fight against the putschists”.

“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,” he said.

Niger President Mohamed Bazoum was toppled on July 26 and has been detained along with his family at the presidential palace in a coup that has been condemned by France and most of Niger’s neighbours.

On Friday, the new Niger regime announced that French ambassador Itte had 48 hours to leave, saying he had refused to meet with the new rulers and citing French government actions that were “contrary to the interests of Niger”.