French ambassador in Niger being held hostage by junta, Macron says

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French President Emmanuel Macron attends a press conference, on the second day of the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, September 10, 2023. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File photo

PARIS (Reuters) – France’s ambassador in Niger is being held hostage at the French embassy by the military junta which has seized power in the West African nation, President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday.

“As we speak, we have an ambassador and diplomatic members which are being literally held hostage at the French embassy, and food is prevented from being delivered. They’re eating military rations,” Macron told reporters during a visit to Burgundy.