A moto-taxi carries a passenger past the French Embassy in Niamey on Aug 28, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

NIAMEY — Niger's police has been instructed to proceed the expulsion of French Ambassador to Niger Sylvain Itte, after the expiration of the 48-hour ultimatum granted to him, said an official statement broadcast on national radio on Thursday.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Niger's junta has informed the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the decision, according to the statement.

UN agencies and non-governmental organizations have been barred from working in military "operation zones," Niger's Interior Ministry said Thursday

"The diplomatic cards and visas of the former ambassador of his country to Niger and his family are invalidated," the statement said.

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As a result, at the end of the 48-hour given to the French diplomat to leave Niger, which expired on Aug 28th, the individual no longer enjoys the privileges and immunities attached to his status as a member of the diplomatic personnel of the embassy, the statement said.

Last Friday, Niger's junta ordered the French ambassador to leave the country within 48 hours, following several actions contrary to Niger's national interests, according to a statement issued by Niger's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs said later that they would not accept the request of Niger's junta, saying that "the military government does not have the authority to order France to withdraw its envoys." 

UN agencies, NGOs banned

UN agencies and non-governmental organizations have been barred from working in military "operation zones," Niger's Interior Ministry said Thursday.

READ MORE: Niger junta expels French ambassador

This is "due to the current security situation and the ongoing operational engagement of the Nigerien Armed Forces," the ministry said in a statement.

Niger has been, in some of its border areas, suffering atrocities of terrorist organizations including armed groups and criminals who have controlled the southern region of Libya since the overthrow of the Muammar Gaddafi regime in 2011. There are also terrorist groups based in northern Mali.

In recent years, a new center of insecurity has emerged in the extreme southwest of Niger, a region known as the "three borders" (Niger-Mali-Burkina Faso) where terrorist groups often carry out deadly attacks targeting both military and civilian population.