Emmanuel Macron, the French President, has disclosed that the country’s envoy to Niger and his employees are “literally” living in the embassy like hostages.
Macron said envoy Sylvain Itte is still persona non grata, accusing the Niger junta of obstructing food delivery to the consulate, where diplomatic workers are living in deplorable conditions.
“As we speak, we have an ambassador and diplomatic staff who are literally being held hostage in the French embassy,” Macron told reporters during a visit to Burgundy.
“They are preventing food deliveries. He is eating military rations,” he added.
Asked if his government was planning to bring Itte back 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.”
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The military coup that deposed President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 urged Itte to leave the country as soon as possible. Even when the 48-hour deadline passed, the French government refused to cooperate and refused to recognize the military authority as legitimate.
For weeks, Macron has refused to remove the French ambassador, a stance supported by the EU, which has called the demand a “provocation.”
According to EU foreign affairs spokeswoman Nabila Massrali last month, the EU, like France, “does not recognise” the authorities who seized power in Niger.
According to Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, the ambassador “is working” in the embassy and will remain there as long as his country requires.
“He is very useful for us with his contacts and those of his team,” Colonna was quoted as saying by French media reports.
On July 26, Bazoum was detained at the presidency by members of his guard. General Abdourahamane Tiani was appointed as the new head of state after the military junta took power.
ECOWAS, the West African bloc, has attempted to engage with the junta but has been unsuccessful.
