Niger's military rulers order four envoys out
Niger's military rulers have given the French, German, Nigerian, and US ambassadors 48 hours to leave the country, escalating tensions over the threat of military action by ECOWAS to reverse the coup. France rejected the ultimatum, stating that it does not recognize the military rulers' authority. ECOWAS urged Niger's coup leaders to reconsider their position and demanded an immediate return to civilian rule. ECOWAS has also applied sanctions against Niger to pressure the new regime. The coup has increased tensions in the Sahel region, where three other governments have fallen to military rebellions since 2020.