Niger’s junta has revoked the diplomatic immunity of the French ambassador, Sylvain Itte, and ordered the police to expel him from the country.
The statement said Itte “no longer enjoys the privileges and immunity attached to his position as a member of the diplomatic staff” of the French embassy.
“The diplomatic visas of the ambassador’s family also were cancelled.” the junta said in a statement.
The statement indicated that the military council ordered the police to expel Ambassador Itte from the country.
There was no immediate comment from the authorities in France on the statement of the military council in Niger.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that the ambassador would stay in the country despite the junta’s pressure and reiterated France’s support to Niger’s ousted president Mohamed Bazoum.