The Niger military leadership has cut off electricity and water supplies to the French Embassy in the capital Niamey with no food deliveries allowed.
According to Turkish news wire, Anadolu, the military junta has also taken similar action at the French consulate in Zinder, Tera, Oualam, Ayorou, Dosso, Niamey and Filingue.
President of the National Support Committee for the CNSP, Elh Issa Hassoumi Boureima, asked all partners of the French bases in Niger to suspend all supplies of water, fuel and electricity as well as food products.
“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 was quoted to have said.
“In addition, any partners who continue to help the French in the process of supplying the goods and services will be considered enemies of the sovereign people.”
This came after a two-day deadline given by the military administration to the French ambassador, Sylvain Itte, to leave Nigerien territory expired on Sunday.
Relations between the new regime in Niamey and several Western powers, and the West African bloc, ECOWAS, have gone sour since the coup on 26 July.
However, authorities in Paris were quick to reject the order against its ambassador by Friday evening, repeating that France did not recognise the military ruler’s authority.
Peoplesmind