Sylvain Itté

Sylvain Itté (born 20 March 1959) is a French diplomat. Itté is currently serving as the French ambassador to Colombia, having previously served as the ambassador to Niger, Angola, and Uruguay. Itté gained international attention during his ambassadorship to Niger, becoming a flashpoint in French–Nigerien relations during the 2023 coup d'état in Niger and ensuing international crisis.

Early life and education Born in present-day Mali, Itté grew up in several different African countries until the age of six. He then lived in multiple European countries until settling in France, earning a master's degree in public law from the Institut régional d'administration de Lille.

Career In 1985 Itté served in the French armed forces and was stationed in Berlin. He was then made French ambassador to Angola, serving from September 2016 to October 2020.

Itté was then appointed as ambassador to Niger in October 2022. While serving as ambassador to Niger, a coup in the country occurred, with the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland assuming control of the government. On 25 August 2023, in the midst of the international crisis that followed, the National Council ordered him to leave the country in 48 hours. French President Emmanuel Macron announced he was keeping Itté at his post despite the ultimatum for his departure. Itté's diplomatic immunity and visa, and that of his family, were revoked on 31 August and Nigerien police were ordered to remove him from the country, although this did not happen. On 15 September Macron accused the Nigerien junta of holding Itté and his staff hostage by blocking food deliveries to the embassy, with Itté reportedly living off military rations. On 24 September, it was announced by the French government that Itté and other diplomatic staff in Niger were to be recalled to France.

Itté wrote the geopolitical book Au cœur de la diplomatie française en Afrique (At the heart of French diplomacy in Africa), originally set to be released in March 2024. As of January 2024, the book's release is in doubt as its publication has been blocked by the French Foreign Ministry due to potentially sensitive information being included.

It was announced on 5 July 2024 that Itté was to be appointed by President Macron as the French ambassador to Colombia, becoming effective 15 August 2024. By 2025, Itté had brought a lawsuit for defamation against Nathalie Yamb in Geneva, Switzerland, reportedly with the blessing of the French government.