French Ambassador to Niger Sylvain Itte has left the country and is currently heading to Paris, the Al Arabiya broadcaster reported on Wednesday, citing the Nigerien military council and sources.
The military council has confirmed that Itte has left for Chad, the broadcaster said, adding that the ambassador will head to France from Chad.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday that Paris would withdraw its troops from Niger in the coming weeks or months, with the military expected to return to their homeland by the end of 2023. Paris also recalled Itte and all staff of the French Embassy in the West African country.
In late July, Niger's military announced that they ousted the country's elected president, Mohamed Bazoum. Leaders of most countries, including France, as well as the regional organization ECOWAS, condemned the coup.
After the coup, Niger's military in power gave France – its former colonial overlord – 30 days to withdraw troops and severed all military agreements with France. Niger has also been the scene of massive demonstrations in support of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, formed by coup leaders and calling on France to end its military presence in the West African nation.
In response, the French Foreign Ministry said that the coup leaders are not entitled to require the French envoy to leave Niger since "the ambassador's agreement was issued solely by the legitimate authorities of Niger."