The French president, Emmanuel Macron, reaffirmed this Wednesday his “support” for President Mohamed Bazoum, overthrown by a coup d’état in Niger this summer, at a time when the French ambassador, expelled by the military in power, is back in Paris.
According to the Elysée, Emmanuel Macron spoke with Hassoumi Massaoudou, foreign minister of the overthrown government in Niger.
The Head of State assured him of “France’s determination to continue its efforts with the ECOWAS Heads of State and its European and international partners to restore constitutional order in Niger,” the French presidency specified.
Return to France of the ambassador
The French ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itté, whose departure the military in power in Niamey had been demanding since the end of August, arrived in Paris this Wednesday at the end of a long confrontation between the two countries.
The head of French diplomacy, Catherine Colonna, “received him at the Quai d’Orsay to thank him for his action and that of the teams around him in the service of our country, under difficult conditions,” the ministry underlines in a written statement. to BFMTV.
The ambassador left Niamey with six colleagues early this Wednesday morning. The Nigerien army demanded the departure of the French diplomat and withdrew his diplomatic immunity and visa, but Paris had until then refused to call him.
During a television interview on Sunday, Emmanuel Macron also announced the withdrawal of French troops based in Niger.
Source: BFM TV
