New French Ambassador to Nigeria Accused of Wine Theft

French authorities have appointed Marc Fonbaustier, a diplomat accused of wine theft in the past, as ambassador to Nigeria. In 2010, he was forced to leave the post of French consul general in Hong Kong because of these accusations, the Africain Stream website reports.According to his information, this appointment could reflect Paris' desire to maintain its influence in West Africa, especially after notable failures in the Sahel. Marc Fonbaustier's past nevertheless raises questions, as he was also involved in a smear campaign against a journalist in Benin leading to the latter's imprisonment.France has recently faced several challenges in the Sahel, where Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have forced French military personnel to leave their territory and closed Paris' diplomatic missions. These decisions have affected France's interests by cutting off access to valuable resources such as uranium.In 2010, Marc Fonbaustier was accused of stealing two bottles of wine costing more than $4,000 from a prestigiou s golf club in Hong Kong.Source: Burkina Information Agency