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The European Union’s top diplomat Joseph Borell voiced extended support to France’s ambassador to Niger, who refused to comply with an expulsion order from Niger’s military leaders
The European Union’s top diplomat Joseph Borell voiced extended support to France’s ambassador to Niger, who refused to comply with an expulsion order from Niger’s military leaders. The military seized power after deposing the elected government. On July 26, the coup leaders said they were expelling French Ambassador Sylvain Itté giving him a deadline of 48 hours to leave the country. However, the French Ambassador did not oblige with the deadline on the grounds that it did not recognize the authority of the coup leaders.
Niger’s military junta said it had revoked the French ambassador’s diplomatic immunity and instructed the police to expel him. Sylvain Itté’s visa and that of his family have also been cancelled. President Emmanuel Macron said last week that the ambassador was being held hostage in the embassy, living off military rations after the military cut off deliveries of supplies.
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Josep Borell also renewed the bloc’s full solidarity with Mohamed Bazoum. The elected president has been under house arrest with his family. The EU’s top diplomat praised his courage and determination. Over the past decade, the European Union has spent 600 million euros in civilian and military missions in the Sahel, training 30,000 personnel of security forces and 18,000 troops in Mali and Niger, Borrell recently told the European Parliament.
