France’s President, Emmanuel Macron, raised alarm on Friday, saying that the French embassy in Niger has become an environment where their envoy is practically held hostage. He went on to accuse the military leadership of hindering the provision of food to the embassy.
Macron, in a statement made in Semur-en-Auxois, France, disclosed that the ambassador is depending on “military-issue rations” for their sustenance.
‘As we speak, we have an ambassador and diplomatic staff who are being held hostage in the French embassy,’ he said.
‘They are preventing food deliveries,’ he said, in an apparent reference to Niger’s new military rulers. ‘He is eating military rations.’
On July 26, when they seized power and ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, Niger’s military authorities informed French ambassador Sylvain Itte that he will have to leave the country.
Despite a 48-hour ultimatum issued in August for his departure, French ambassador Sylvain Itte remained in his post, as the French government refused to comply and refused to recognize the military regime’s legitimacy.
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France and the majority of Niger’s neighboring countries have strongly denounced the coup.
Macron stated the envoy ‘cannot go out, he is persona non grata and he is being refused food’.
When questioned whether France would contemplate bringing him home, Macron said: ‘I will do whatever we agree with President Bazoum because he is the legitimate authority and I speak with him every day.’
Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna later stated that the ambassador is actively carrying out his duties and would remain in his post for as long as Paris sees fit.
‘He is very useful for us with his contacts and those of his team,’ Colonna told LCI television, adding the ambassador still had a small team with him.
France has a presence of about 1,500 soldiers in Niger and made it clear earlier this month that any potential troop reshuffling would only be considered through negotiations with Bazoum.
The country’s new authorities have torn apart military cooperation deals with France and pressed for the rapid withdrawal of troops.