French Ambassador to Niger Itte and other diplomatic staff being held "hostage" and forced to eat military rations at French Embassy (English translation) (l.bfmtv.com)

submitted 1 year ago by Mylemmy@lemmy.ml to c/worldnews@lemmy.ml

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FRENCH Title: Putsch au Niger: Macron annonce que l'ambassadeur de France est "pris en otage"

Caption: French President Macron says French Ambassador to Niger Itte and other diplomatic staff being held "hostage" and forced to eat military rations at French Embassy in Niamey, Niger: News Outlet Photo via BFMTV.

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[-] kurogane@lm.helilot.com 35 points 1 year ago

The French variant of the article says that there is only military rations left to eat at the embassy.
But your post kind of implies that the French embassador is "force fed" military rations? This is a very weird way to translate it.

[-] kambusha@feddit.ch 5 points 1 year ago

Are they being held hostage though?

[-] kurogane@lm.helilot.com 38 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

The article is a little weird. This is my interpretation, need to look for other sources.

President says that the ambassador is "taken hostage, literally".
Military in Niger wants him out of the country, but French government says that his work is too valuable, he must stay.
Military says " OK, but he can't leave the embassy, Persona Non Grata".

Technically the ambassador has either choice of leaving the country or staying inside the embassy. Food is not delivered anymore, leaving him with military rations to eat.