Published September 15,2023
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President Emmanuel Macron mentioned on Friday that France’s envoy to Niger resides like a hostage within the French embassy and accused army rulers of blocking meals deliveries to the mission.
The ambassador resides off “military rations”, Macron advised reporters within the jap city 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 mentioned.
“They are preventing food deliveries,” he mentioned, in an obvious reference to Niger’s new army rulers. “He is eating military rations.”
Niger’s army leaders advised French ambassador Sylvain Itte he needed to depart the nation after they overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26.
But a 48-hour ultimatum for him to go away, issued in August, handed with him nonetheless in place because the French authorities refused to conform, or to recognise the army regime as authentic.
The coup has been condemned by France and most of Niger’s neighbours.
Macron mentioned the envoy “cannot go out, he is persona non grata and he is being refused food”.
Asked whether or not France would think about bringing him residence, Macron mentioned: “I will do whatever we agree with President Bazoum because he is the legitimate authority and I speak with him every day.”
France retains about 1,500 troopers in Niger, and mentioned earlier this month that any redeployment may solely be negotiated with Bazoum.
The nation’s new leaders have torn up army cooperation agreements with France and requested the troops to go away shortly.
Macron has for weeks rejected the decision to take away the French ambassador, a stance backed by the EU which has described the demand as “a provocation”.
Like France, mentioned EU international affairs spokeswoman Nabila Massrali final month, the EU “does not recognise” the authorities that seized energy in Niger.
The impoverished Sahel area south of the Sahara, has suffered what Macron has referred to as an “epidemic” of coups lately, with army regimes changing elected governments in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea in addition to Niger.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
