In a rare move, the French embassy in Niamey, Niger’s capital, has officially closed its doors, confirming earlier reports of the planned closure. The decision comes as diplomatic relations between France and Niger soured following a military coup in July 2023.
The closure was prompted by significant challenges faced by the embassy over the past five months, hindering its ability to carry out its diplomatic functions, as stated by a spokeswoman for the French foreign ministry. The obstacles included a blockade around the embassy, travel restrictions for staff, and the refusal to permit any diplomatic personnel to travel to Niger, violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
This closure coincided with the withdrawal of the last French soldiers deployed in Niger on December 22. The strained relationship between Paris and Niamey escalated after the military coup in July, which ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. This event has been viewed as a substantial setback to French influence in the region, following military takeovers in Mali in 2020 and Burkina Faso in 2022.
Following the July 26 coup, the ruling military in Niger promptly called for the departure of the 1,500 French soldiers deployed to combat jihadists and denounced several military agreements signed with Paris. In late August, the military regime further ordered the expulsion of French ambassador Sylvain Itté, who remained trapped inside the embassy for almost a month before eventually departing. The closure of the French embassy underscores the deepening rift between the two nations.
