Niger Military Holding Ambassador Hostage – President Macron

French President, Emmanuel Macron, has accused the Niger Military Rulers of holding its ambassador hostage.

President Macron made the statement while speaking to reporters in the eastern town of Semur-en-Auxois alleging that the ambassador was living off military rations.

The Niger military leaders, led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani, announced a takeover on national TV on July 26 after they placed 65-year-old President Mohammed Bazoum, and his family under detainment at his official residence without fresh food and electricity.

Macron said France’s envoy to the West African country is living in the French embassy like a hostage as the Niger military rulers had blocked food deliveries to the mission

“As we speak, we have an ambassador and diplomatic staff who are being held hostage in the French embassy,” he said.

“They are preventing food deliveries,” the French President said, apparently referring to Niger’s new military rulers. “He is eating military rations.”

Newscentral.Africa reported that the Niger military had told the French ambassador, Sylvain Itte, that he had to leave the country following the July 26 coup in which they overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum.

However, the ambassador remained in the embassy after the 48-hour ultimatum issued in August.

The Niger military rulers were said to have cut electricity and water supply to the embassy but the ambassador was in place as the French government neither complied with evacuating him nor recognized the regime.

President Macron said the ambassador “cannot go out, he is persona non grata and he is being refused food”.

When asked whether the French government would consider bringing him home, Macron responded: “I will do whatever we agree with President Bazoum because he is the legitimate authority and I speak with him every day.”