The military junta in Niger, which took control of the government last month, announced on Thursday that it had nullified the diplomatic immunity of the French ambassador and directed the police to remove him from the country.
In addition, Sylvain Itte’s visa and those of his family have been invalidated.
Last Friday, the junta informed him that he had 48 hours to depart from the nation as a reaction to actions taken by the French government, which the junta claimed were not aligned with Niger’s interests.
However, the Monday deadline elapsed without any recall orders from Paris.
Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, declared on Monday that the ambassador would remain stationed in Niger despite the military regime’s pressures. Macron also restated France’s backing for the deposed democratically-elected president, Mohamed Bazoum.
The French government maintained that it does not acknowledge the coup leaders as the rightful authorities of the country.
Following the overthrow of the president, the junta has exploited anti-French sentiments within the populace to consolidate its backing.