French President Emmanuel Macron says France will continue
to support Mohamed Bazoum, the Niger Republic president who was deposed last
month.
Speaking to ambassadors in Paris, the French capital, on
Monday, Macron said France has faced hostility in recent times owing to its
policy of backing the courageous.
On Friday, Niger’s military junta ordered Sylvain Itte, the
French ambassador, to leave the country within 48 hours.
In a statement, the country’s foreign ministry said the
decision to expel the ambassador stemmed from his refusal to honour an
invitation by Niger’s minister of foreign affairs.
The statement also added that “other actions by the French
government contrary to the interests of Niger” led to the ambassador’s
withdrawal.
Hours after the expiration of the deadline, Macron applauded
Itte for staying put.
“France and its diplomats have faced particularly difficult
situations in some countries in recent months, from Sudan, where France has
been exemplary, to Niger at this very moment,” the French president said.
“I applaud your
colleagues who are listening from their posts.”
Macron added that France would not change its position on
the coup.
“I think our policy is the right one,” he said.
“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.
“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.”
France, the former colonial power in Niger, has been very
vocal in the condemnation of the coup that ousted Bazoum.
France’s position has been rebuffed by the junta which has
accused French forces of freeing captured “terrorists” and breaching an air
space ban.
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