Reuters & Politico:
France’s ambassador in Niger is being held hostage at the French embassy by the military junta which has seized power in the West African nation, President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday. On August 25th the junta had ordered the diplomatic members to leave the country, they have not since.
“As we speak, we have an ambassador and diplomatic members which are being literally held hostage at the French embassy, and food is prevented from being delivered. They’re eating military rations,” Macron told reporters during a visit to Burgundy.
Since soldiers overthrew Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum in July and seized power, France — which has 1,500 soldiers deployed in the African country — has refused to diplomatically engage with the military junta.
The junta’s representative, Amadou Abdramane, responded by stopping all military cooperation deals with France. On August 25, the junta gave French ambassador Sylvain Itte, one of those now being held, 48 hours to leave the country, according to French news.
France has advocated for a peaceful solution to the conflict and was at odds with the U.S. over sending an envoy to Niger for negotiations.
Reporting by Reuters and Politico.
