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Agence France-Presse

France’s President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that his country’s envoy to Niger is living like a hostage in the French embassy and accused military rulers of blocking food deliveries to the mission.
The ambassador is living off “military rations”, Macron told reporters in the eastern town of Semur-en-Auxois.
“As we speak, we have an ambassador and diplomatic staff who are literally 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.”

Niger’s military leaders told French ambassador Sylvain Itte he had to leave the country after they overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26.
But a 48-hour ultimatum for him to leave, issued in August, passed with him still in place as the French government refused to comply, or to recognise the military regime as legitimate. The coup has been condemned by France and most of Niger’s neighbours.
Macron said the envoy “cannot go out, he is persona non grata and he is being refused food”.
Asked whether France would consider 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.”
Niger junta orders French, German and Nigerian envoys to leave country
France keeps about 1,500 soldiers in Niger, and said earlier this month that any redeployment could be negotiated only 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, EU foreign affairs spokeswoman Nabila Massrali said last month, the EU “does not recognise” the authorities that seized power in Niger.
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.


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Africa

Emmanuel Macron says France’s ambassador to Niger ‘literally held hostage’

An armed man patrols outside the French embassy in Niamey, Niger on September 1. Photo: EPA-EFE

French President Emmanuel Macron visits Semur-en-Auxois in Burgundy, France on Friday. Photo: AFP

French elected official Stephane Jullien arrested in military-run Niger

Supporters of Niger’s National Council of Safeguard of the Homeland display a French national flag with an X-mark on during a protest in Niamey on September 1 to demand the departure of the French army from Niger. Photo: AFP

African Union suspends participation of Niger following coup, urges release of elected president

The African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa. Photo: AFP

Niger sergeant Maman Sani Maigochi during a recording of a video clip in support the country’s army in Niamey. Photo: AFP

Niger junta pledges return to democracy in 3 years, as Western African allies vow to reverse coup

Volunteers gather near General Seyni Kountche Stadium in Niamey on August 19 responding to the call from several organisations to be registered as civilian auxiliaries to potentially mobilise in support of the armed forces. Photo: AFP

Niger’s new military ruler General Abdourahamane Tiani, reading a statement stating a transition of power would not go beyond three years. Photo: ORTN/Télé Sahel/AFP

From left; President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mousa Tourey, ECOWAS Special Envoy to Republic of Niger, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Niger ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Saad Abubakar III on Saturday. Photo: AP

News

World

The French president says the envoy is living off ‘military rations’ as the junta blocks food deliveries to the embassy
Ambassador Sylvain Itte had defied an ultimatum by Niger’s military leaders, who told him to leave the country after they overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum


The French president says the envoy is living off ‘military rations’ as the junta blocks food deliveries to the embassy.


Emmanuel Macron says France’s ambassador to Niger ‘literally held hostage’

The French president says the envoy is living off ‘military rations’ as the junta blocks food deliveries to the embassy Ambassador Sylvain Itte had defied an ultimatum by Niger’s military leaders, who told him to leave the country after they overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum

The French president says the envoy is living off ‘military rations’ as the junta blocks food deliveries to the embassy

Ambassador Sylvain Itte had defied an ultimatum by Niger’s military leaders, who told him to leave the country after they overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum