France announces the closure of its embassy in Niger
France has announced the closure of its embassy in Niger for an indefinite period.
France justifies this decision by “restrictions” which have been imposed on its diplomatic representation by the Nigerien authorities since the coup d’état of July 26 and the “violent attack” which the latter suffered on July 30. Which, according to the embassy, does not allow it “to exercise the full scope of the missions assigned to a diplomatic representation”. The embassy also mentions the indifference of the Nigerien authorities to its “repeated requests” aimed at maintaining its activities “under normal conditions”.
The French embassy therefore announced that it was terminating the contracts of its staff, citing “force majeure”. “The French embassy in Niger finds itself, to its great regret, forced to take this collective measure of dismissal for the reasons indicated above [notably the case of force majeure – editor’s note],” the French diplomatic representation in Niger tells its staff. Niger.
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Since the July 26 coup that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, relations between France and Niger have deteriorated significantly and continue to deteriorate further. The new authorities of Niger have denounced several agreements with the former metropolis, in particular the military cooperation agreement, that of the cancellation of double taxation or the agreement concerning the Franco-Nigerian Cultural Center and recently that relating to the mission Eucap Sahel in Niger. With the European Union, France has, for its part, suspended all cooperation, including cultural, with Niger.
