Niger Military Junta Cuts Power & Water from French Embassy

The Niger military junta has cut off electricity and water supplies to the French Embassy in the capital city of Niamey, as well as the French consulate in various locations across the country. 

This comes as the President of the National Support Committee for the CNSP, Elh Issa Hassoumi Boureima, called on partners of French bases in Niger to suspend all fuel, water, electricity, and food supplies. 

Boureima said, “We ask Nigelec and SPEN (SEEN) to cut off water and electricity in the French Embassy, in the French consulates of Zinder and Niamey.”

He also noted that this action is part of the military junta’s efforts to exert pressure on foreign entities associated with France. 

The military junta also prohibited food deliveries to the embassy, signalling a heightened level of tension between the military leadership and the French diplomatic missions.

Boureima further added that any continued assistance to the French would be regarded as opposition to the will of the people.

What you need to know

The decision to sever essential services to the French diplomatic missions comes in the wake of a two-day ultimatum issued by the military administration, demanding the departure of the French ambassador, Sylvain Itte, from Nigerien territory. 

Despite the military’s move, France swiftly rejected the order targeting its ambassador, reiterating its non-recognition of the junta’s authority. 

The foreign ministry told newsmen that, “The putschists do not have the authority to make this request, the ambassador’s approval coming solely from the legitimate elected Nigerien authorities.”

It also said, “We are constantly evaluating the security and operating conditions of our embassy.” 

The strained relationship between the junta-led government and Western powers, along with the regional bloc Economic Community Of West African States, ECOWAS, has escalated since the military coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum on the 26th of July.