French President Emmanuel Macron expressed deep concern on Friday over the situation unfolding at the French embassy in Niger, where the country’s ambassador and other diplomats are reportedly being held hostage by the new military leaders. Macron revealed this alarming development during a conversation with reporters in the town of Semur-en-Auxois.
“We have an ambassador and diplomatic members who are literally being held hostage at the French embassy in Niger,” Macron disclosed. “They are even preventing food deliveries, and the ambassador is forced to consume military rations.”
The military junta known as the Conseil national pour la sauvegarde de la patrie (CNSP), which orchestrated the coup on July 26 and ousted President Mohamed Bazoum from power after his two-year tenure, had demanded the expulsion of the ambassador from Niger on August 25. France, who has strongly condemned the coup, refused to comply with the junta’s request, asserting that it lacked the authority to make such demands.
Since the coup, tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Niger, demanding the withdrawal of Macron’s forces from the former French colony. Anti-French sentiments have heightened in recent weeks, with demonstrators chanting the slogan “Le France, dégage,” which means “France, get out.”
Despite these calls, Macron has consistently dismissed the legitimacy of the ruling army, a stance that has received support from the European Union (EU). “The decision of the putschists to expel the French ambassador is a further provocation that does not contribute to finding a diplomatic solution to the current crisis,” stated EU spokeswoman Nabila Massrali, as reported by Le Monde.
The EU has also declared that it does not recognize and will not recognize the authorities resulting from the coup in Niger.
When asked about his response to the tense situation in Niger, including the potential redeployment of 1,500 French soldiers stationed in the African country, Macron emphasized that all decisions would be made in consultation with President Bazoum, the democratically elected leader of Niger. “I will act in accordance with whatever we agree upon with President Bazoum because he is the legitimate authority, and I am in contact with him on a daily basis,” Macron vowed.
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