The military coup in Niger

The military coup in Niger  

Macron defies junta's ultimatum – hails diplomat  

 

French President Emmanuel Macron dismisses Niger's military junta's demand that the French ambassador leave the country, writes Bloomberg.  

 

The junta gave Ambassador Sylvain Itte 48 hours to leave. That deadline has now expired.  

 

In his annual address to diplomats on Monday, Macron praised the ambassador for staying, despite the pressure. He did not comment on the junta's demand that 1,500 French soldiers stationed in the country cease their operations.  

 

Tensions between Niger and its former colonial power have risen since the junta ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in a July 26 coup. 

 

 

Nigerians supporting the military coup are seen carrying Russian flags. Sam Mednick / AP  

 

The Wagner crash 

Russia addresses Wagner's disinformation against Niger  

 

Social media channels linked to the Russian state have launched a major effort to exploit the military coup in Niger, The Guardian reports. The aim is to strengthen Moscow's influence in the country and open up possibilities for an intervention.  

 

The West African Cooperation Organization Ecowas has previously threatened to intervene militarily in Niger unless the junta returns power to pro-Western President Mohamed Bazoum, who was ousted in a coup at the end of July.  

 

Prigozhin and the Wagner group led the disinformation campaign in Africa, and activity in the channels decreased sharply after the death of the Wagner leader, according to an expert analysis. But pro-Russian Telegram channels have continued to push disinformation about Niger at the same level as before the Wagner leader's death.