The French Ministry of Armies threatened that its forces in Niger will respond to any targeting of the French Embassy and diplomatic mission there.
The statement of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces to Al-Arabiya (Al-Hadath) channel, today, Thursday, came hours after the Niger Foreign Ministry announced the lifting of the immunity of the French Ambassador, Sylvain Etty, and directed the security and police services to expel him from the country.
According to the French Presidency, "Elysée" that the French Ambassador is still in the Nigerien capital, Niamey, did not leave.
For its part, the French Foreign Ministry said, "We took note of the Ambassador's request to leave, and the issue of his departure comes only from the legitimate authorities."
In a letter dated August 29, the Niger Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the French diplomatic mission of the cancellation of the diplomatic documents and visas of the Ambassador and his family members.
Last week, Niger's Foreign Ministry decided to expel the French Ambassador and demanded his departure within 48 hours.
The military Council in Niger seized power on the 26th of last month, and the former commander of the presidential guard, General Omar Abd al-Rahman Tiani, justified the overthrow of President Muhammad Bazoum by failing security, economically and socially, in a country that is among the poorest countries in the world and suffers from the activity of armed groups.
Source: National Iraqi News Agency