PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron claimed on Friday that France’s ambassador to Niger is living like a hostage in the French embassy and alleged military government of blocking food deliveries to the mission.
French Envoy to Niger
The French President told the media that the envoy is living off “military foods”. He claimed that France has an ambassador and diplomatic officials “who are literally being held hostage in the embassy in Niger,”. “They are stopping food deliveries,” Macron said, in an apparent reference to Niger’s military leaders”, adding “The ambassador is eating military foods.”
Niger’s military rulers told French envoy Sylvain Itte he had to leave the African country following they overthrew President Bazoum on July 26 during a military coup.
However, the French government declined to comply or to recognize the military government as legitimate, AFP reported. The military coup has been denounced by France and most regional countries.
President Macron added the Ambassador “cannot go out as the envoy is persona non grata and he is being denied food”. Asked whether Paris would consider bringing the Ambassador home, President Macron replied: “I will do whatever we agree with deposed President Bazoum as he is the legitimate ruler, and I speak with him daily.”
However, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said the envoy “is working” and would remain in the country as long as France wished.
Paris keeps around 1,500 troops in Niger and said earlier that any redeployment could only be exchanged with President Bazoum. Niger’s new rulers have torn up military cooperation deals with Paris and asked the soldiers to leave.
The European Union also “does not recognize” the military regime that seized the government in Niger.
The Sahel region south of the Sahara has suffered what President Macron has called an “epidemic” of military coups in last several years, with military government replacing elected governments in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali as well as Niger.
