The foreign minister of France has reiterated her country's commitment to maintaining troops in Niger and keeping the French ambassador in place.
The military leadership in Niamey demanded the envoy's expulsion more than a week ago.
Catherine Colonna told Le Monde newspaper that the ambassador Sylvain Itte was the French representative to Niger's "legitimate authorities" - the deposed government of President Mohamed Bazoum.
Ms Colonna was speaking as tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Niamey for a third consecutive day near a French military base.
They again called on the former colonial power to withdraw its troops.
France has about 1,500 soldiers stationed in Niger to help quell an Islamist insurgency in the Sahel region.
Latest Stories
-
Dynamics of legislature oversight over the Armed Forces in liberal democracies
12 minutes -
Africa must lead the next wave of digital innovation – MTN CEO
12 minutes -
Notorious robber who terrorised Accra’s elite communities captured in Togo – Police
15 minutes -
Assurances Committee of Parliament to hold a public hearing from July 2025
51 minutes -
Policymakers have failed to learn a lesson from history and economics – Bawumia
1 hour -
Street begging crackdown to expand beyond Accra – Interior Minister
2 hours -
You can’t fix trade deficits with tarrifs – Bawumia cautions
2 hours -
Africa’s energy crisis rooted in leadership failures, not poverty – Experts
2 hours -
Ghanaian pilgrim dies while performing Hajj in Makkah
3 hours -
2 arrested, one on the run for stealing iron rods from Agenda 111 site
3 hours -
Mahama announces plans to upgrade Greater Accra Regional Hospital to Teaching Hospital
3 hours -
GHS takes measures to check Mpox outbreak
4 hours -
Five dead after tornado tears through St Louis
4 hours -
Real Madrid confirm Dean Huijsen signing from Bournemouth
4 hours -
Delegates walk out of FIFA congress after Infantino arrives late from Trump trip
4 hours