Policy on Niger based on ousted president’s courage, commitment of diplomats: French president

ANKARA (AA) – France’s policy on Niger is based on the courage of its envoy, who remains in the field despite pressure, the French president has said.

Speaking with ambassadors in a meeting at Elysee Palace, Emmanuel Macron again rejected the military administration in Niger and expressed support for his ousted Nigerien counterpart Mohamed Bazoum.

He admitted French diplomats have been facing difficult situations in recent months, and hailed Bazoum for his “courage.”

“I believe our policy is right,” Macron said. “It is based on President Bazoum’s courage, and the commitment of our diplomats and our ambassador who remains in the field despite all the pressure.”

Rejecting the military taking power last month, Macron added that “putschists are Nigeriens’ real problem,” saying they gave up on the fight against “terrorism” and abandoned work on economic policy, which could have attracted international investments and taken Niger out of poverty.

Amid tensions that have risen in the weeks following the ouster of the West African nation’s democratically-elected President Mohamed Bazoum, the military administration’s Foreign Ministry gave French Ambassador Sylvain Itte 48 hours on August 25 to “leave Nigerien territory.”

Niger was plunged into uncertainty on July 26 when Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, a former commander of the presidential guard, led a military intervention that ousted President Bazoum.

France launched an operation earlier this month to evacuate its citizens as well as other nationals from Niamey.​​​​​​​

Bazoum was widely seen in his country as corrupt, inept and a stooge of his much-resented Western allies. His closeness to France — the former colonial power whose interference in the country’s internal affairs has caused much outrage — has been a particularly sore point.