On Wednesday 6 September, the EU deplored the “obstacles” to the movements of its ambassador to Niger, Salvador Pinto da França, of Portugal, who was prevented the day before from gaining access to the premises of the French embassy in Niamey.
“The European Union denounces and regrets the obstacles to freedom of movement of which the European ambassador, stationed in Niamey, was the victim this Tuesday 5 September while he was going to the French embassy”, stressed the spokeswoman for the European External Action Service in a statement published on Wednesday evening, without giving further details.
“Under the Vienna Convention of 1961, the ambassador of the European Union has been duly accredited and he must, therefore, be able to carry out his mission in the full respect of the said convention”, the press release emphasises.
The French ambassador, Sylvain Itté, who is in a delicate situation, has the full support of the EU (see EUROPE 13238/4).
Paris, which does not recognise the Nigerien authorities that emerged from the military putsch that overthrew the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, on 26 July, has refused to comply with an order to expel its ambassador. Security forces are preventing access to the French embassy in Niamey.
The EU considers President Bazoum to be the only legitimate authority and is preparing to sanction the putschists (see EUROPE 13240/3). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)