00:00 France's ambassador will remain at his post in Niger.
00:03 This was the message from President Macron after Paris passed the 48-hour deadline for
00:07 its ambassador to leave the country - an ultimatum laid out by Niger's coup leaders on Friday.
00:13 Thanking the efforts by French diplomats in Niamey, Macron reaffirmed his support to the
00:18 country's ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
00:20 "I believe our policy is the correct one.
00:24 It's based on the courage of President Bazoum, on the efforts of our diplomats and our ambassador
00:29 in Niger, who will stay despite pressure from coup leaders.
00:33 We do not recognize them.
00:34 We support the President, who has not resigned."
00:38 Macron defended France's military presence in Niger, stating that without French intervention,
00:44 the country, along with neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, would no longer exist.
00:49 "If France hadn't intervened, if our soldiers hadn't fallen in Africa, if Operation Sauval
00:56 in Barkhane had not been carried out, we would not be talking today about Mali, Burkina Faso,
01:01 or Niger.
01:02 Those states would no longer exist today with its existing borders."
01:07 The comments come as anti-France tensions have been simmering in Niger.
01:11 Tens of thousands rallied over the weekend in support of last month's coup, demanding
01:15 the departure of French troops and accusing Paris of interfering in their affairs.
01:20 Meanwhile Niger's Junta leader has ordered the Nigerian armed forces to go on maximum
01:25 alert over foreign threats to restore constitutional order, while the West African bloc, ECOWAS,
01:30 has been attempting dialogue with coup leaders, while remaining on standby for possible military
01:35 intervention.
01:36 The Junta has so far rebuffed diplomatic attempts by the bloc to reverse the coup.
01:40 [BLANK_AUDIO]
