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President Emmanuel Macron said that France’s envoy to Niger was living like a hostage in the French embassy and accused military rulers of blocking food deliveries to the mission. Macron bemoaned that the ambassador and diplomatic staff were being held hostage in the French embassy.
President Emmanuel Macron said that France’s envoy to Niger was living like a hostage in the French embassy and accused military rulers of blocking food deliveries to the mission. Macron bemoaned that the ambassador and diplomatic staff were being held hostage in the French embassy.
Niger’s military leaders told French ambassador Sylvain Itte he had to leave the country after they overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26. A 48-hour ultimatum for him to leave was issued in August. The French government refused to comply or to recognize the military regime as legitimate. The coup has been condemned by France and most of Niger’s neighbors.
Macron said the envoy could not go out, he is persona non grata and he is being refused food. Asked whether France would consider bringing him home, Macron said that he would agree with President Bazoum because he was the legitimate authority. France keeps about 1,500 soldiers in Niger and said earlier this month that any redeployment could only be negotiated with Bazoum.
The country’s new leaders have torn up military cooperation agreements with France and asked the troops to leave quickly. Macron has for weeks rejected the call to remove the French ambassador, a stance backed by the EU which has described the demand as a provocation. Like France, said EU foreign affairs spokeswoman Nabila Massrali last month, the EU does not recognize the authorities that seized power in Niger.
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The impoverished Sahel region south of the Sahara has suffered what Macron has called an epidemic of coups in recent years, with military regimes replacing elected governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea as well as Niger.
