ALBAWABA - Niger's military leadership has decided to cut off all water, food, and electricity supply to the French Embassy in the capital Niamey.
Anadolu news agency reported that the president of the National Support Committee for the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country (CNSP), Elh Issa Hassoumi Boureima, has asked all partners of French bases in Niger to suspend all water and electricity supplies and food products.
"We ask Nigelec and SPEN (SEEN) to cut off water and electricity in the French Embassy, in the French consulates of Zinder and Niamey," he was quoted to have said.
"In addition, any partners who continue to help the French in the process of supplying the goods and services will be considered enemies of the sovereign people" Boureima added.
This order comes following the Nigerien authorities had withdrawn the French ambassador Sylvain Itte’s credentials in light of refusing to leave the country, also citing "other actions by the French government that are against Niger’s interest".
On Friday, the Junta ordered the French ambassador in Niamey Sylvain Itte to leave the country within 48 hours, according to the Nigerien Foreign Ministry, amid tensions that have risen in the weeks following the ouster of the West African nation's democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum last month.
“France has taken note of the putschists’ request,” the French Foreign Ministry told AFP later on Friday. "The putschists do not have the authority to make this demand, the ambassador’s approval comes only from the legitimate, elected Nigerien authorities," the ministry added.
