Niger’s authorities dropped idea of expelling more ambassador at last minute

Rebels in Niger planned to expel diplomats of other Western countries along with the French ambassador who was ordered to leave the country by Monday, but dropped this idea at the last moment fearing international isolation, the RFI radio station said on Saturday.

According to the radio station, Niger’s foreign ministry drafted relevant letters to the embassies of Germany, the United States, Ivory Coast, and Niger, but did not send them amid the disputes among the country’s top brass. Admitting the need to "distance from France," some of the high-ranking military called for not breaking relations with other Western countries "because they have interests in Niger" and Niger "needs them."