Niger has given ambassadors from two Western nations 48 hours to leave the country.
French Ambassador Sylvain Itte was asked to leave in a letter that accused him of ignoring an invitation for a meeting with the Nigerien Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ministry said Friday.
The letter dated Friday, a copy of which was seen by The Associated Press, also cited „actions of the French government contrary to the interests of Niger” as among the reasons for Itte’s expulsion.
The new U.S. Ambassador to Niger, Kathleen Fitzgibbons — who only arrived in the capital, Niamey, earlier this month — was also given 48 hours to leave the country, AFP reported.
The U.S. Department of State did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
West African military chiefs are meeting in Ghana to discuss a possible armed intervention in Niger after President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown last month. A senior ECOWAS official said, “If everything else fails, the valiant forces of West Africa … are ready to answer to the call of duty.”
The moves to expel diplomats further escalates the international crisis in the West African nation stemming from a coup that ousted the West African nation’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum. and placed him under house arrest.
Niger, a former French colony, was France’s partner, before last month’s coup, in the fight against jihadi violence.
The United States has been pressing for a diplomatic resolution of the crisis.