Niger’s military junta is said to have stopped supplies of electricity and water to the French Embassy Niamey, Niger’s capital. The restrictions are placed so severely that even food deliveries are not allowed to the French embassy. The junta took the same step in Zinder’s French consulate, claims a local report.
Elh Issa Hassoumi Boureima, president of the National Support Committee for the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country (CNSP), has urged all allies of French bases in Niger to prevent supplies of food, water and electricity. These partners will be seen as “enemies of the sovereign people” if they continue to assist the French in providing the products and services, according to the orders.
In addition, he is said to have threatened to label as enemies of the state anyone who supplies the French with food or water that they need.
The Nigelec, the Société d’Exploitation des Eaux du Niger (SEEN), and the power and water distributors have all received an order to this effect. This occurs shortly after the French ambassador was given orders to leave Niger by the military junta.
The French ambassador Sylvain Itte was reportedly given 48 hours by the Niger authorities to “leave Nigerien territory,” however that time period apparently ran out on Sunday, August 27. Despite the fact that France had acknowledged receiving such an order to leave, the French government declared it would defy the junta’s directive and urged its representative to stay in Niamey. It argued the Niger Junta lacked “no authority” to request that its envoy leave the nation.
President of France Emmanuel Macron also reaffirmed Monday France’s support for ousted President of Niger Mohamed Bazoum, who refused to resign, a decision Macron praised. Additionally, Macron stated that Paris would back any military action taken in Niger by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The French president acknowledged that French envoy Sylvain Itte was listening in from Niamey, the capital of Niger, despite being given a 48-hour deadline to leave the country last Friday. He was speaking to ambassadors gathered in Paris for a significant speech on foreign policy.
“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 and I applaud your colleague and your colleagues who are listening from their posts,” he said.
