The announcement was made by Emmanuel Macron on Sunday during a television interview. The French ambassador to Niger left the country by plane on Wednesday morning, Reuters learned from two security sources.
The repatriation of Sylvain Itté comes after a confrontation with the military junta that took power on July 26 in Niamey. The military ordered the diplomat’s expulsion on August 25 in response to “actions” by France “contrary to the interests of Niger”, giving him 48 hours to leave the country.
“Taken hostage”
France, which does not recognize the authority of the coup plotters, rejected this request, considering that the ambassador’s approval came only from the elected Nigerien authorities.
A few days before the repatriation announcement, Emmanuel Mcron had initially explained that the ambassador had been taken “hostage” by the military in power and only ate “military rations.”
Iambassador Sylvain Itté “He no longer has the possibility of going out, he is persona non grata and we refuse to allow him to eat,” insisted Emmanuel Macron. Asked about a possible repatriation of the ambassador to Paris, the head of state reiterated: “I will do what we agree with President Bazoum (overthrown by the coup plotters, ed.) because he is the legitimate authority and I speak with him every day.”
Source: BFM TV
