French ambassador and diplomatic staff taken hostage in Niger
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Sylvain Itte, Ambassador to Niamey, who was given 48 hours by the military junta in Niger to leave the country, was ‘taken hostage’ in Niger. The exact whereabouts of Ambassador Itte, who is in Niger territory, is unknown.
Ambassador Sylvain Itte of Niamey, whom the military junta in Niger gave 48 hours to leave the country, has been taken hostage, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement to the press during his visit to Semur-en-Auxois.
"We have an ambassador and diplomatic members taken hostage at the French Embassy in Niger," Macron said.
"We have an ambassador (Itte) and diplomatic officers in Niger who are literally being held hostage in the embassy as I speak to you right now, and they are not being allowed to deliver food. They are dining on military rations," he added.
AMBASSADOR CRISIS BETWEEN FRANCE AND NIGER
The military government, which came to power in Niger on July 26, gave France's Ambassador to Niamey Sylvain Itte 48 hours to leave the country on August 25, but Ambassador Itte did not leave the country.
France had declared that "the military junta is not an authority that can demand the departure of the French ambassador". Thereupon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Niger announced in a note sent to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 31 that Ambassador Itte's immunity had been lifted and that he would be deported.
After the note, tight security measures were taken around the French Embassy in Niamey, and vehicles entering and leaving the embassy were started to be checked by Niger security forces. Likewise, security was increased around the air base named "Niamey 101" in the capital where French soldiers are stationed.
It is known that the military administration, which cannot enter the French Embassy in Niamey in accordance with the diplomatic immunity provided by the Vienna Convention, wants to "capture" Ambassador Itte, whose immunity was canceled, outside the embassy building.
The exact whereabouts of Ambassador Itte, who is still in Niger territory, is unknown.
COUP IN NIGER
In Niger, President Mohamed Bazoum was detained by elements of the Presidential Guard Regiment on July 26, and the military announced its seizure of power that evening.
On July 28, General Abdourrahmane (Omar) Tchiani, the commander of the Presidential Guard Regiment, assumed leadership of the junta, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), and became the head of the transitional government.
Source: Anadolu Agency
