Coup: Niger Expels Nigerian Ambassador Despite Peace Talk

• Niger’s military ousts Nigerian and German ambassadors, citing actions against national interests, giving them 48 hours to depart
• French ambassador also expelled as standoff escalates after coup; ECOWAS engages Islamic clerics for negotiations amid anti-French sentiment

Niger’s military leadership, which took power in a coup on July 26, has expelled Nigeria’s ambassador, Mohamed Usman.

It also expelled the German Ambassador, Olivier Schnakenberg.

They were given 48 hours to leave the country.

In a statement on Friday, Niger’s foreign ministry said:

In reaction to Nigerian Ambassador Mohamed Usman’s refusal to reply to an invitation by the ministry for a discussion on Friday August 25 at 11.30 a.m., and due to other actions of the Nigerian government contrary to Niger’s interests, the ministry is giving 48 hours to Mr. Mohamed Usman’s to leave the Nigerien territory.

Same reason was also given for the expulsion of German Ambassador to Niger.

In reaction to German Ambassador Olivier Schnakenberg’s refusal to reply to an invitation by the ministry for a discussion on Friday August 25 at 11.00 a.m., and due to other actions of the German government contrary to Niger’s interests, the ministry is giving 48 hours to Mr. Olivier Schnakenberg’s to leave the Nigerien territory, it said in a separate statement.

On Thursday, President Bola Tinubu, who is also the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), met with some Islamic clerics (Ulama) who will be sent to Niger to continue negotiations with the coup leaders as the standoff escalates, raising the prospect of a military intervention to restore constitutional order in Niger.

The French ambassador, Sylvain Itte, was also given 48 hours to leave Niger by the country’s military administration.

Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, a former presidential guard commander, led a military intervention that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26.

The military takeover in Niger, like recent coups in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, occurred amid a growing wave of anti-French sentiment, with some locals accusing the European country of meddling in their affairs.