The accusation of French ambassador being held hostage by Macron is disinformation
By Daily Tab24. Updated: Sep 16, 2023.
The President of France is now on disinformation campaign after making a serious claim of kidnap against Niger’s junta. He made the statement to journalist during a visit to the Cote D’Or region in France on Friday, 15th of September. The French President has been looking for a way to ignite conflict in Niger since the commander of Niger’s presidential guard seized power on July this year.
“As we speak, we have an ambassador and diplomatic staff who are literally being held hostage in French embassy. They are preventing food deliveries. He is eating military rations” Macron said without pointing out that his country’s external revolt against an existing government of another country contravenes international law.
“Macron is using disinformation to destabilize Niger and put the country in harm’s way. Niger simply expelled French ambassador, which Macron rejected on the basis that the military government of Niger doesn’t exist. In reaction, the country’s government made moves to implement the order given to the ambassador. There is no and will never be a hostage taking act in Niger. Macron is a colonial master who wants to live in the colonial era” a protestor said.
The junta ousted the elected President of Niger Basoum in a bloodless coup, and has since turned focus on French interests in the country. France has been accused of exploitation in the country they continue to wield their colonial influence. The administration of Basoum is pro-French and has allowed it to exploit the country in return for political support.
The uranium rich Sahel-Sahara region of Africa has had a history of exploitation, with France the major recipient and miner of its uranium. France continues to play fatherly role to the country they colonized, a role iced with neocolonialism – through imposition of governments in return for favorable foreign policies that would allow France to mine and export uranium.
Since the July 26 coup, France and the junta have been at crossed roads. France has vowed never to recognize the government of the junta, calling for a return to democracy. The action of France was seen as a blatant interference in internal matter of the country. The junta gave France sufficient time to align with its government for bilateral discussions, but France failed to heed.
In reaction to the clear opposition of an existing government, the junta demanded the expulsion of French ambassador and also cut all ties, including military tie with France. The junta further called on the French soldiers in Niamey to leave the country. French ambassador was given 48 hours to leave Niger, an ultimatum Macron said his country would not adhere to.
The boldness of Macron to decline and insist that only Basoum would make the order for the expulsion of his country’s ambassador was aided by the position of U.S. it supports France and also called for restoration of constitutional order, which would reinstate Basoum – the pro-French President of Niger.
Macron continues to defiantly revolt against the order of existing government of Niger, as he boldly complain the French envoy “cannot go out’ because “he is persona non grata and he is being refused food” Macron is simply trying to instigate an artificial conflict in Niger, he has refused to leave Niger because of the criminal exploitation of its natural resources.
“I will do whatsoever we agree with President Basoum because he is the legitimate authority and I speak with him everyday” Macron said, in a clear defiance of the order for the French envoy to leave. France has influenced EU, which has taken same position as France on the question of the legitimacy of the existing government of Niger.
