Macron still talks regularly with Niger's ousted president

“I speak every day with President Bazoum. We support him. We do not recognise those who carried out the coup. The decisions we will make will be based on the discussions with Mr Bazoum," Mr Macron affirmed.

Mr Macron's comments were posted on the Elysee Palace's social media page X. Niger's military government took power on 26 July in a coup.

Coup spokesman Colonel Amadou Abdramane said in a nationally televised statement that Mr Macron's comments "are a further blatant interference in Niger's internal affairs".

Relations with France, Niger's former colonial power and ally in the fight against jihadism, have deteriorated rapidly since the coup. The coup plotters also demanded that police immediately expel the French ambassador to the country, after he said he would not leave.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has threatened military intervention if diplomatic pressure fails.

Trung Kien (according to Reuters)