France condemned the violence against its embassy in Niger and pledged to react strongly to any attacks against its citizens or interests. Anti-French protests took place today in front of the French embassy in Niamey following last week's military coup.
"The President will not tolerate any attacks against France and its interests.", President Emmanuel Macron's office said in a statement, specifying that it will respond to attacks against French diplomats, the military or companies.
In a separate statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned all violence against diplomatic missions and called on the Nigerien authorities to protect the French mission as required by international law.
Macron spoke to the ousted president Mohamed Bazoum and with the former president of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou in the last hours. Both condemned the coup and called for calm.
France, Niger's former colonial power, announced on Saturday it was cutting all development aid to the country and asked for Bazoum's return to office after his ouster last Wednesday. Niger has been a partner of France and the United States, who have used it as a base to fight the Islamist insurgency in the Sahel region of West and Central Africa.
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