French Ambassador to Niger Leaves the Country

The French Ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itté, left the country early on Wednesday after about a month since the ruling military council ordered his expulsion. This comes just days after President Emmanuel Macron's statement regarding the withdrawal of the ambassador and French troops. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since military officers took power in Niamey in July. The military council ordered Ambassador Sylvain Itté to leave the country within 48 hours at the end of August, in response to what it described as actions by France "contrary to the interests of Niger." France initially ignored this order, maintaining its stance that the military council's government is illegitimate and calling for the reinstatement of the elected President Mohamed Bazoum, who was ousted in a coup in July.