The military junta in the Niger Republic is reportedly suspending connections with France and other nations, to which the French foreign ministry has responded.
France claimed that the junta’s decision to annul bilateral military agreements was unlawful since only a “legitimate” government could have made such choice. According to AFP, the French foreign ministry stated that the agreements that were signed with the legitimate Nigerien authorities serve as the legal foundation for France’s defense pact with Niger.
Additionally, the ambassador for Niger in France has claimed that only jailed President Mohamed Bazoum, who appointed her, has the authority to remove her from office.
The coup leaders’ request to terminate the mandates of the ambassadors to Nigeria, Togo, and the United States was refused, according to Aichatou Boulama Kane, who was nominated to serve as France’s ambassador in June 2022.
“I am still the ambassador of legitimate President Mohamed Bazoum and I consider myself as such. The decision was taken by illegitimate authorities. I am the ambassador of Niger in France.” she said in a telephone interview with AFP.
