The military junta in Niger has debunked insinuations that it has expelled Nigerian Ambassador, Mohamed Usman from Niger Republic.
There were rumours that Usman was ordered to leave Niger Republic alongside some few Western diplomats in a statement issued on Friday, August 25, by the Niger Foreign Affairs Ministry.
The Niger Foreign Ministry was said to have issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the Nigerian diplomat to leave the country or face the due consequences.
“The ministry is giving Mr Mohamed Usman 48 hours to leave the Nigerien territory in response to Nigerian Ambassador’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 purported statement reads.
In a statement, the Nigerien foreign affairs ministry denied the first memo.
“Contrary to the information deliberately distilled on social networks which report a decision by the Nigerien authorities ordering the Ambassadors of Germany, Nigeria, and the United States of America to leave Nigerien territory within 48 hours, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration, and Nigeriens Abroad specifies that the said information is false and that only the Ambassador of France in Niger is declared persona non grata.”
“Also, the Ministry reminds those who are agitated and still doubt the expression of its sovereign will, that Niger does not need authorization or an interpretation of the Vienna Convention of 1961, to exercise its prerogatives and have Ambassador Sylvain ITTE leave, after these 48 hours ubur D Done in Niamey on August 25.”
According to a source in the Nigerian embassy in Niger who spoke to Newsmen, the Military junta was not aware of the expulsion of Usman.
The source averred that military regime was embarrassed by the reports.
