2023-09-07 18:02:54
La embajadora española en Níger, Nuria Reigosa González, y el embajador de la Unión Europea para el país africano, Salvador Pinto da França, vivieron una tensa situación el pasado 5 de septiembre que representa las tensiones existentes entre los golpistas nigerinos y Europa. Ocurrió cuando intentaron acceder a la embajada francesa en Niamey, cuyo entrada les fue denegada in situ por parte de los militares nigerinos.
Según aseguran las fuentes sobre el terreno, ambos diplomáticos procuraron acceder a la embajada francesa, donde lleva recluido el embajador francés, Sylvain Itté, desde que expiró el 27 de agosto el plazo concedido por la nueva junta militar para que abandonara el país. El galo se resiste a marchar. Tanto el ministerio de Exteriores francés como el propio Emmanuel Macron han argumentado en las últimas semanas la necesidad de mantener a su delegación diplomática en Níger, primero argumentando que los golpistas no tienen potestad legal para expulsar a un embajador, y segundo insistiendo en su apoyo incondicional al expresidente Mohamed Bazoum. Sylvain Itté no puede entonces salir de la embajada francesa si no es para enfilar la ruta que lleva al Aeropuerto Internacional de Niamey y subirse en un avión que le lleve a París.
Se encargan de recordárselo miles de personas que se reúnen periódicamente en torno a la embajada francesa o la base militar francesa en Niamey, agitando enseñas nacionales, imágenes de Vladimir Putin y carteles donde se exige a los franceses abandonar el país. En una de estas manifestaciones, la semana pasada, un grupo de civiles incluso amagó con entrar a la embajada por la fuerza, aunque la tentativa terminó sin resultado y el ambiente consiguió relajarse.
Los golpistas han llegado a comunicar a la policía que sean ellos los encargados de “proceder a su expulsión [de Itte]”, in a letter signed on August 29 which also stated that the ambassador “no longer enjoys the privileges and immunities linked to his status as a diplomatic member.” However, those from Niger have not yet found the opportunity to arrest the ambassador and deport him, knowing the diplomatic catastrophe that would mean entering a foreign embassy using force. A police device has been placed around the embassy for the moment, and all vehicles entering and leaving the premises must be thoroughly inspected.
This is where the incident occurred. The Spanish ambassador and her EU counterpart were preparing to enter the French embassy when they were stopped to proceed to search the vehicles in which they were traveling. Given the refusal to collaborate with the Nigerien police in this regard, the uniformed officers had no other option than to deny their entry and order them to go back the way they had come.
The Spanish Foreign Ministry was contacted to comment on the incident but has so far not made any statements, while the European Union has expressed its protest against what happened in a statement. “The European Union denounces and regrets the obstacles to freedom of movement of which the European ambassador stationed in Niamey was a victim, this Tuesday, September 5, on his way to the French embassy.” The statement also indicated that the ambassador should be able to carry out his work within the framework of the 1961 Vienna Convention. Although the attitude of the Nigeriens should not be surprising either: the EU has already described Itte’s expulsion as “a new provocation that does not will help find a diplomatic solution to the current crisis”, while in recent days he has reiterated his support for the French ambassador. These types of comments only manage to distance (even more) the positions between Niger and the European Union in the context of a situation where collaboration in the fight against terrorism is a priority.
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