“The French ambassador to Niger and other French diplomats are ‘literally being held hostage at the French embassy,’ according to French president Emmanuel Macron.”
Analyst Comment: This is Macron’s attempt to create a pretext for military intervention in Niger. The junta, who now controls the Niger government, asked France’s ambassador and diplomats to leave the country. They refused. Niger has since created a perimeter around the French embassy to inspect vehicles going to and from the compound. France is claiming Niger is holding them hostage, but there is no evidence the Niger junta is stopping anyone from leaving: To the contrary, they want the French out of their country!
Niger is a major Uranium supplier to France. The US also has about 1,100 soldiers in Niger while France has 1,500.