FAKE NEWS ALERT: Nigeria’s ambassador to Niger Republic NOT expelled

Mohammed Usman, Nigeria’s ambassador to the Republic of Niger, was not expelled by the military junta, TheCable can report.

There was a viral rumour on Friday night which gained further traction on Saturday that the junta gave Usman 48 hours to leave the country for failing to attend a meeting without explanation.

In a telephone interview with TheCable on Saturday, Usman said the report is false.

“I was not given any ultimatum to leave the country. The report is false,” he told TheCable.

The junta had, on Friday, ordered Sylvain Itte, the French ambassador, to leave the country within 48 hours.

The country’s foreign ministry said the decision to expel the ambassador stemmed from his refusal to honour an invitation with Niger’s minister of foreign affairs.

The statement also added that “other actions by the French government contrary to the interests of Niger” led to the ambassador’s withdrawal.

Although the foreign ministry did not provide details, the junta had accused French forces of freeing captured “terrorists” and breaching a ban on the air space in an attempt to destabilise the country.

The country’s military had also accused the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of aligning its troops with a foreign entity whom it did not mention.

France, the former colonial power in Niger, had condemned the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and called for an immediate return to constitutional order.