Nigerian government denounces illegal presence of French troops

Niamey, Sep 5 (Prensa Latina) The Nigerien Government denounced the presence of French troops in its territory as illegal and has called for their rapid withdrawal, the country's authorities announced on Tuesday.

September 5, 2023
12:53

In a press briefing held in Niamey, Niger’s junta-appointed Prime Minister Mahamane Lamine Zeine, recalled that the new government annulled the security and defense cooperation agreements with France so that the 1,500 French soldiers here must leave the country.

As for French Ambassador here Sylvain Itté, who remains in the country despite the military junta withdrawing his diplomatic immunity, Zeine said he had not behaved properly as a diplomat, and Niger’s authorities hope he would also leave the country as soon as possible.

The Nigerien interim prime minister stated that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) continues the negotiations and confirmed that an agreement is expected in the coming days to lift the sanctions imposed on Niger by that body following the military uprising in Niamey.

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