The military government of Niger has instructed the police to remove the French ambassador from the country and has cancelled his diplomatic protection.

The military regime in Niger has cancelled the diplomatic protection of the French ambassador and instructed the police to remove him from the West African nation, as stated by the junta.

The rebellious soldiers who removed the president of Niger over a month ago demanded that French Ambassador Sylvain Itte depart the country within 48 hours last week. The deadline passed on August 28, but France did not recall Itte.

The government of France declares that it does not acknowledge the individuals planning a coup as the rightful leaders of the nation.

The communique sent by Niger’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier this week and seen by The Associated Press on Thursday said Itte “no longer enjoys the privileges and immunities attached to his status as a member of the diplomatic staff of the embassy.”

The document also says the diplomatic cards and visas of the ambassador’s families have been canceled.

The government of France did not provide an immediate response to a comment request on Thursday.

Following the initial request for Itte to depart Niger, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that the ambassador would continue serving in his current position. Macron expressed strong opposition towards the individuals behind the coup, while emphasizing that France, as Niger’s former colonial ruler, does not pose a threat to the nation.

After overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum, who was elected democratically, the junta has used the population’s anti-French feelings to strengthen its backing. In the capital city of Niamey, people frequently gather for rallies where they chant slogans like “France must fall,” and occasionally they do so in front of a French military facility located in the city.

France has some 1,500 military personnel in Niger who trained and conducted joint operations with Nigerien security forces to beat back a growing jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. The operations have ceased since the coup, and jihadi attacks are increasing.

This month, the army in Niger experienced its first significant attack in six months, resulting in the death of 17 soldiers and injuries to approximately 24 others caused by insurgents.

The junta is disregarding requests from other West African nations to free and restore Bazoum, which is causing an increase in regional tensions, even in the face of potential military action.

The ECOWAS regional alliance has sent a “ready” force to Niger with the objective of restoring constitutional governance. Although the force has not yet arrived in Niger, ECOWAS states that they are willing to engage in dialogue, but they have a limited amount of time to wait.

The junta has selected a fresh administration and declared its intention to restore Niger to the constitutional system of governance within a period of three years, a timeframe that ECOWAS refused to accept.

France found itself in a difficult situation after expelling the French ambassador and withdrawing his diplomatic privileges. While France expressed its commitment to assisting ECOWAS in reinstating a suitable government in Niger, it also had to ensure the safety of its diplomatic personnel.

Mucahid Durmaz, a senior analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, a global risk consultancy, stated that if Paris acknowledges the military power in Niger, which is the central issue, it may help mitigate the harm to France’s reputation in its previous African territories.

Durmaz believes that France is unlikely to utilize the junta’s actions against the ambassador as justification for initiating a military intervention with support from ECOWAS forces.

Durmaz stated that due to the potential disastrous consequences of a conflict in the region and the existing strong negative feelings towards France, it is probable that Paris would avoid taking such action.