Niger’s junta said in response that the announcement signals a “new step towards the sovereignty” of the country.
“Imperialist and neo-colonialist forces are no longer welcome on our national territory. The new era of cooperation, based on mutual respect and sovereignty is already underway,” it said in a statement.
Since the July coup, France has kept about 1,500 troops in Niger, and it has repeatedly defied orders from the new junta to recall its ambassador, claiming that France does not accept the coup leaders as legitimate.
Since the coup, France and Niger’s military collaboration had been suspended. The junta chiefs argued that Bazoum’s administration wasn’t doing enough to save the nation from the uprising.
In August, the junta handed Sylvain Itte, the French ambassador, 48 hours to leave. The coup leaders cancelled his diplomatic immunity when the deadline passed without France recalling him.
The junta is currently under to sanctions from Western and African regional countries.
The military administration in Niger accused UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday in New York of ‘obstructing’ the West African nation’s full participation at the UN’s annual assembly of world leaders in order to placate France and its allies.
