President Emmanuel Macron during a speech on Monday stressed that France’s ambassador to Niger will stay in the country despite pressure to leave form leaders of a recent coup. Macron who was speaking during a major foreign policy speech to ambassadors gathered in Paris insists that France will not change its position in condemning the coup and offering support to removed President Bazoum.
"I think our policy is the right one. It's based on the courage of President Bazoum, and on the commitments of our ambassador on the ground who is remaining despite all the pressure, despite all the declarations made by the illegitimate authorities," said Macron.
President Macron also dismissed calls from some in the United States and Europe for Western powers to give up on Bazoum.
“We do not recognise those who have carried out the putsch, we support a president who has not stepped down, and besides whom we remain engaged,” Macron said.
The main West African bloc ECOWAS has been trying to negotiate with the leaders of the Niger coup, and has said it is ready to deploy troops to restore constitutional order if diplomatic efforts fail.
On Friday, Niger’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs 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”.
