Niger expels French ambassador

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Monitoring: The decision to expel the ambassador was taken partly due to his refusal to respond to an invitation to a meeting with Niger’s minister of foreign affairs, the ministry said in a statement.

It added that other actions by the French government were also contrary to the interests of Niger, without going into further detail.

This decision follows a series of statements and demonstrations hostile toward France since the Nigerien army overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, who has since been detained with his family.

The military leaders accuse Paris of wanting to intervene militarily in Niger in order to reinstate Bazoum and claim that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is an organisation in the pocket of former regional colonial power France.

ECOWAS has imposed heavy economic sanctions on Niger following the coup and has threatened the use of armed force to restore constitutional order.