Niger cancels 1,000 expired diplomatic passports
3 Min Read
The foreign ministry announces that more than 992 diplomatic passports, including over 368 diplomatic passports given to former ministers, lawmakers, and other officials, were canceled.
-
Supporters of Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum demonstrate his support after a military coup in Niamey, Niger, on July 26, 2023. (AP)
The Nigerien Press Agency (ANP) reported on Thursday that the Foreign Ministry of Niger has canceled almost 1,000 diplomatic passports given to Nigerien citizens and that of other countries because they have expired.
The ministry announced that more than 992 diplomatic passports, including over 368 diplomatic passports given to former ministers, lawmakers, and other officials, were canceled.
Around 50 of the 368 diplomatic passports were given to foreign nationals, the report stated.
Earlier this month, ANP reported that the foreign ministry canceled several officials' diplomatic passports appointed by the country's previous authorities, such as the prime minister and the foreign minister.
This comes as Niger is not only expelling French troops who seem adamant about staying in the country but is also trying to prevent a military intervention by the ECOWAS amid its ongoing coup.
Read more: Pentagon misled Congress about size, scope of US airbases in Africa
French President Emmanuel Macron said last Sunday that France does not recognize Niger's rebel government and will agree to remove its soldiers only if asked to do so by deposed Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum.
On another note, the US is repositioning its military forces in Niger and withdrawing some non-essential personnel as a precautionary measure following the coup which overthrew Western-backed Bazoum.
What happened in Niger?
On July 26, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani led a coup d'état in Niger, ousting and detaining ex-President Mohamed Bazoum.
France condemned the coup and reiterated its support for the "legitimate government" of Niger. The coup leaders halted gold and uranium exports to France, blocked French media, and denounced several military pacts with Paris.
In mid-August, they demanded that French forces withdraw from Niger by early September. Mass rallies have taken place in Niger since the coup, calling for the complete withdrawal of French troops from the country.
On August 3, the military government of Niger announced that it was scrapping all military agreements with France, which has 1,500 troops stationed in the country. France has rejected the move, saying that only the legitimate government of Niger can make such a decision.
The military leaders said that the agreements had different expiration dates, but one of them, which was signed in 2012, was due to expire within a month.
