French President Emmanuel Macron says the French ambassador to Niger has been “literally taken hostage” by the military, which seized power in the African country in the coup. “They have prevented the delivery of food” to the embassy, the ambassador “is eating military rations,” Macron added, according to Le Figaro.
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The military, which seized power in Niger on July 26, ordered the French ambassador to leave the country, but the Paris government refused, as it still considers the government of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum to be legitimate.
“As I speak with you, in Niger we have an ambassador and diplomats who are literally taken hostage in the French embassy,” the French ambassador Sylvain Itté “has no possibility of leaving, he is persona non grata, they refuse “Make him eat,” Macron said again in statements during a visit to the town of Semur-en-Auxois, according to French media reports.
When asked about the possible repatriation of the ambassador, Macron replied: “I will do what we agree with President Bazoum. He is the legitimate authority, I speak to him every day.”
Macron had already emphasized on September 10th that a decision on a possible withdrawal of the 1,500 men of the French military contingent in Niger could only be made at Bazoum’s request. The putschists unilaterally canceled defense agreements with France and demanded the withdrawal of soldiers and the repatriation of the Paris ambassador.