French embassy in Niger closed 'until further notice'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
3 Jan 2024 08:55

The French embassy in Niger will now close, months after the ruling junta came to power and popular protests demanded that France and its troops leave the country.

A motorcyclist is reflected in the shattered door of the French embassy in Niamey, Niger, Monday, July 31, 2023. (AP)

"Until further notice" the French embassy in Niger has been shut down, according to the French Foreign Ministry, citing "serious obstacles".

Explaining the situation in France's former colony, the foreign ministry's statement noted that "for five months, our embassy has been severely hampered, making it impossible to carry out its missions."

Following the coup that ousted French ally and former President Mohamed Bazoum, the leadership of Niger cut ties with France, forced its military out of the country, and cut the export of uranium and gold short.

Significantly, the French statement did not announce that it will no longer have any involvement or activities in Niger but rather it announced that "the embassy will continue its activities from Paris," adding that "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, for the direct benefit of the most vulnerable populations."

Anti-French sentiment has been on the rise in #Africa in the past year, as African nations try to destroy the shackles enforced by the colonial past of #France. pic.twitter.com/bJ2oHNnDsN
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) August 5, 2023

Niger ends EU 'peacekeeping' partnership with EU

Nigerien authorities announced, on December 4, that they had canceled a contract with the European Union for the deployment of the civilian EUCAP Sahel Niger mission in the African country.

According to the statement published by Niger's National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) on X, "The [Nigerien] Foreign Ministry has the honor to announce the denunciation of the agreement between the Republic of Niger and the European Union regarding the status of the EUCAP Sahel Niger mission, giving six months' advance notice."

The EUCAP Sahel Niger mission is part of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) system, which authorizes the EU to send 'peacekeeping and conflict prevention' operations overseas.

The EU last extended the mission's term to September 2024 with around 130 people working on the mission.

This follows Burkina Faso and Niger withdrawing from all bodies of the G5 Sahel regional association, including the joint military force, the two nations announced in a joint statement.