The Nigerien police have stepped up its presence outside the French Embassy in Niamey as Paris refused to comply with the rebel government's order to withdraw French Ambassador Sylvain Itte from the country, the Europe1 broadcaster reported on Friday, citing a diplomatic source.
At the same time, despite the increased police presence, the rebels have not yet ordered the use of force to expel the French diplomat, the report said.
On Thursday, the coup leaders in Niger said that Itte no longer enjoyed diplomatic immunity and instructed the police to proceed with his expulsion. The French Foreign Ministry refused to obey the order, while the European Union called the decision "a new provocation" by putschists.
A coup took place in Niger on July 26. Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted and detained by his own guard, led by Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani. Following the coup, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended all cooperation with Niger and threatened invasion if the putschists do not reinstate Bazoum.
In early August, during a summit in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, ECOWAS leaders agreed to activate a standby force to potentially compel the Nigerien military to reinstate Bazoum. On August 18, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs Abdel-Fatau Musah said that the block's general staff chiefs had agreed on the date for invading Niger but would not make it public.