Niger's ambassador to France, Aïchatou Boulama Kané with French President, Emmanuel Macron
‘Nobody can sack me’– Niger Republic ambassador to France, as country severs ties with Nigeria, Togo, others
Following decision, Thursday, by the military junta in Niger Republic to terminate diplomatic relations with a host countries, including Nigeria, Togo, United States, as well as France, the country’s ambassador to the latter nation, has declared that ‘nobody can sack her from office.’
Niger Republic’s newly-formed National Council for the Protection of Homeland (NSP), Thursday, terminated the duties of several personalities including ambassadors namely; Nigeria, USA, France and Togo.
However, reacting to the development, Niger’s ambassador to France, Ms Aïchatou Boulama Kané, said, Friday, that she will ‘always be’ the ambassador to France‘ and answerable only to the legitimate President Mohamed Bazoum.
Ms Kané also stated that she rejected the Putchists’ decision to terminate her duties ‘as null and unavoidable’.
“I am still the ambassador of the legitimate President Bazoum Mohamed and I consider myself such,” she said in an interview to the AFP.
The Putchists notification “to terminate (my) duties I consider it null and unavoidable; it was taken by an illegitimate power, I am the ambassador of Niger in France,” hammered the diplomat, serving in France since December 2021.
On Thursday evening, the military perpetrators of a coup in Niger announced an “end” to Niger’s ambassadors in France, the United States, Nigeria and Togo in a statement read on national television, as pressure to restore constitutional order in Niger multiply internationally.
“He has terminated the duties of extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassadors of the Republic of Niger to the French Republic”, ‘Nigeria,’ to ‘the Togo Republic’ and ‘to the United States”, said one of the Putschists.
However, Ms Kané said she has received this ‘by letter’ notification, in which the Putchists are looking to appoint a business manager to replace her, in this case the first adviser of the Embassy of Niger in France.
“I informed the first adviser that I reject this decision.
“I am currently in my office; President Bazoum called me yesterday (Thursday) to tell me ‘go to your office, you have my trust and we will continue the work,’ she reported.
“It’s only him (Mohamed Bazoum) that I recognize, he’s the one who nominated me to President Macron, I stay and remain his ambassador in France,” she added.
