French ambassador is being 'held hostage at the French embassy' in Niger, says Macron
The French ambassador to Niger and other French diplomats are “literally being held hostage at the French embassy,” according to French president Emmanuel Macron.
Countries have the right to expel foreign diplomats and embassies as long as they don't arrest them or go through their stuff when they leave. The newly couped Niger junta requested the French ambassador leave and revoked his visa, but the French are still refusing to leave, claiming that because they don't recognize the legitimacy of the new junta, they don't have to follow the junta's orders to leave. Regardless of your opinion of the new junta, in how does a former colonial power be in the right when they are blatantly ignoring the legal rights and sovereignty of their independent former colony's government that is doing things by the book? They stopped sending the ambassador food and are confining him to his embassy until he leaves, especially given the current junta that is extremely gentle treatment
The problem with your picture is that you're calling the junta a sovereign and independent government doing things by the book. They're army personel that took power from the elected government at gunpoint.
It might be so that France will have to accept the new dictatorship one day, but historically more than one such coup has failed days or weeks after. If France were to accept the dictatorship from day one that would be seen as throwing in the towel and dooming any chance of the democratic government regaining power...
My understanding is that the majority of the population supports the coup even when the poll is done by biased media opposed to the coup like the Economist or Forbes. If the majority of people supported overthrowing the government then it doesn't seem like an actual democracy. At least, its not something imposed on the people against their will.
I guess its a matter of perspective where if you care about the will of the people or if you care about power being transfered via elections even if the elections aren't for anyone who represents the people. I definatley don't like the second option but some people do feel that way I suppose.
I don't remember who elected France as the ruler who define and protect democracy in the world. Not accepting the new government and applying sanctions is OK, refusing to leave the country no.
And this is worse than if you remember how usually countries remove their embassadors from conflict zones, Macron is just provoking to make an excuse to an UN intervention or wide applied sanctions after their allied government was deposed.
Damn. I think they should still give food, but yeah he should gtfo.
People keep blaming Russia as if Africans are somehow incapable of making their own decisions. The reality is Africans are tired of French neo colonialism. Niger is a perfect example. They were selling france uranium for $0.8/kg when the market price is $200. That's Niger's resources going to power French power plants, while the people of Niger are struggling to survive. Fuck that shit.
Any source for said price?
Edit: Better known source says it is a baseless rumor circulating on social medias
Some accounts on social media are now circulating the claim that Niger has lifted prices from €0.80 per kilogram to €200. So far, there is no evidence for this beyond themselves quoting each other. The claim seems to trace back to a small digital outlet in Nigeria. Embarrassingly, the website has been confused as being from Niger itself.
Sources (as shared by @goo@lemm.ee) : https://www.forbes.com/sites/eliasferrerbreda/2023/09/12/more-rumours-what-is-really-happening-with-nigers-uranium/
The average global price of Uranium per pound, in 2022, was $40.77 USD. Let's convert it to kilograms.
2.205 pounds = 1 KG
2.205 40.77 = 89.89785 (90 USD per KG)
In 2022, Niger supplied 20% of France's uranium.
Sources:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/260005/monthly-uranium-price/
Please note that I'm not taking sides; I was simply curious about the actual numbers, so I'm sharing them here in the hope that someone finds them interesting.
Questionable sites, not even going to link them. But Forbes states the following:
Some accounts on social media are now circulating the claim that Niger has lifted prices from €0.80 per kilogram to €200. So far, there is no evidence for this beyond themselves quoting each other. The claim seems to trace back to a small digital outlet in Nigeria. Embarrassingly, the website has been confused as being from Niger itself.
Itte is still working, according to French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna. “The ambassador is working, I can confirm that, and he is very useful through his contacts, his team, there is still a small team with him,” said Colonna in an interview with French TV channel LCI. Colonna added that Itte “will stay as long as we want him to stay,” and that his return is Macron’s decision.
I don't think it's going to turn out well for the ambassador.
You serously think Russia is playing 4D chess still, after they've shown to be unable to play even checkers??
... K.
yeah I can see this connection too
Why does it have to be Russia? What if this African nation is tired of subsidizing the lifestyle of a foreign power to the detriment of its own people?
Oh look, a reason to invade. How nice for Macron!
This is an interesting move by France. The Junta expelled their diplomatic staff as part of the justification that France is a neocolonial power interfering with the country. The Junta benefits because having him there cements that bit of propaganda. Hopefully the locals don't get riled up enough to storm the place once that propaganda gets too effective.
The French version of Fortunate Son starts playing from distant loud speakers attached to France's Eurocopter Tigers
I wonder if russia has some stakes in this...
He should have left when asked
hahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahaha
Are people from Niger really called Nigerians? Isn't that a different country?
The demonym for Niger is 'Nigerien', but it's an understandable mistake in spelling since the difference in pronunciation isn't really in the '-ian'/'-ien' part.
Are you for real? What a POS. How about you say where you're from so we can discuss your country's war crimes.
France it is not the savior of the world, they should have left but are too colonialist and have too many business there to leave. If you are OK with what for France are trying to do here you have no stands to criticize what Russian did to Ukraine. Both were trying to justify the invasion of another country. Macron is even willing to kill his embassador to do it. There is no such things of "I disagree with the new head of state" and Europe should stop believe they have higher moral stand to choose which country is "democratic enough" to them, when you stop the colonialism and proxy wars maybe Africans can organize themselves.
?
Obviously not.
