French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday accused the country’s ambassador to Niger of being taken hostage by the country’s coup leaders.
The ambassador is Sylvain Itte and several diplomats were “literally taken hostage” at the French embassy in Niamey, Macron said in a conversation with a French journalist who accompanied him in the internal evacuation.
The president explained: Diplomats “cannot leave” And the military prohibits bringing food into diplomatic missions, where “military rations” must be given.
Macron’s complaint does not provide any details, and the Foreign Ministry has not yet commented.
Macron promised that France would continue to welcome artists from France. niger stressed that visas cannot currently be issued for Mali and Burkina Faso due to the situation in these countries, despite the military regime’s hostility with the former metropolis caused by the previous coup.
“That’s a lie.” He assured that events involving artists and intellectuals from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger would be canceled in France.
“France’s mission is to welcome artists and intellectuals and allow them to shine with complete freedom,” he said.
Additionally, the president’s announcement came after Nigerian military authorities released the French national. Stephen Julien he is the representative chosen by the compatriots to represent them before the French Consulate General in Niamey.
Julien was arrested last Friday and his arrest sparked an official protest in France. He was released on Wednesday, but we didn’t find out about it until last Thursday.
