Niger junta withdraws ambassadors from Nigeria, US, France

The Niger military has announced that it has terminated the duties of its ambassadors in four countries.

The countries are Nigeria, France, the United States and Togo.

Abdourahamane Tiani, a general and former head of Niger’s presidential guard, overthrew democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum to declare himself as the new head of state.

Tiani said the decision was taken to rid Niger of “bad governance” and worsening insecurity.

In a statement read on national television on Thursday by Tiani, the junta said it has “put an end” to the function of the extraordinary ambassadors and plenipotentiaries of the Republic of Niger in four countries.

The ambassadors include Aishatou Boulamakane, Niger ambassador to the French Republic; Alad Magaskia, Niger ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Sidi Zakari, Niger ambassador to the Togolese Republic; and Limon Tingiri Mohamadou Tiari, Niger ambassador to the United States.

There have been several calls from countries and bodies for the military to reinstate Bazoum, all of which have been ignored.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in an extraordinary session on Sunday presided by President Bola Tinubu, its chairperson, reached a resolution to impose several sanctions on Niger over the coup.

ECOWAS also issued a one-week ultimatum for the coup plotters to hand over power to the democratically elected government.

On Thursday, a delegation of the commission led by Abdulsalami Abubakar, former military head of state, visited Niger to negotiate with the country’s military junta.

Abdulsalami was accompanied by Muhammadu Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, and Alieu Touray, president of the ECOWAS commission.

But the delegation was said to have only met with representatives of the junta.