2024-01-02 17:38:49
The French embassy in Niger, which Paris had announced would close shortly before Christmas, is officially closed “until further notice”, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday.
“For five months, our embassy has suffered serious obstacles making it impossible to carry out its missions: blockade around the embassy, travel restrictions for agents and refoulement of all diplomatic personnel who were to reach Niger,” justifies the Quai d’Orsay.
The ambassador was stuck inside the embassy for almost a month
The closure of an embassy, an extremely rare measure, was decided in parallel with the withdrawal of the last French soldiers deployed in Niger as part of the fight against terrorism, who left the country on December 22.
Paris and Niamey have had terrible relations since the military coup last July and the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum. After the July 26 coup, the military in power quickly demanded the departure of French soldiers – around 1,500 deployed to fight against the jihadists – and denounced several military agreements concluded with Paris. The military regime also pronounced at the end of August the expulsion of the French ambassador Sylvain Itté. He remained stuck inside the diplomatic representation for almost a month before leaving.
Up to 5,500 soldiers deployed in the Sahel
“The embassy will continue its activities from Paris. In particular, it will maintain a link with the French nationals present on site, and with the NGOs working in the humanitarian sector, which we continue to finance,” specifies the Quai d’Orsay.
France had up to 5,500 soldiers deployed in the Sahel, before being driven out by successive coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and finally Niger.
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