French Military Ready To Reply If Niger Targets Its Facilities

JAKARTA - The French military on Friday said it was ready to retaliate if new tensions in Niger targeted its country's military and diplomatic facilities in the conflict that hit the West African country.

"The French military is ready to respond to an increase in tensions that may target French military and diplomatic facilities in Niger," a French Military General Staff statement said.

Amid rising tensions in weeks following the democratically elected ouster of Niger President Mohamed Bazoum, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the military government last week gave French Ambassador Sylwiel Itte 48 hours to 'gue the Niger region.'

Ambassador Itte refused to comply with the order and remained at his post, which is a rare thing French President Emmanuel Macron praised.

Niger military authorities then ordered the expulsion of Ambassador Itte on Thursday in a letter addressed to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Itte no longer gets the privilege and immunity inherent in its status as a member of the embassy's diplomatic staff, said Niger's military administration.

Niger has been mired in political uncertainty since July 26 when General Abdourahamane Tchiani, former commander of Niger's presidential guard force, led the military intervention that toppled President Bazoum.