This is a new stage in the deep divorce between France and Niger. Paris has decided to close its embassy in the capital, Niamey, where "it is no longer able to function normally or carry out its missions", diplomatic sources said on Thursday (December 21st).
This measure, which is extremely rare, comes after Niger announced on December 12 the departure of all French soldiers deployed in the country as part of the fight against jihadists by December 22, i.e. this Friday.
The break comes after months of tensions with the generals who seized power in Niamey in a coup d'état on July 26.
"After the attack on our embassy on July 30, and after the establishment of a blockade around our hold by Nigerien forces, we proceeded, at the end of September, to the departure of most of our diplomatic staff," the diplomatic sources explained.
"The France embassy in Niger is therefore no longer able to function normally or carry out its missions. Taking note of this situation, we have decided to close our embassy in the near future," they continued. "It is in this context that we have had to proceed with the dismissal and compensation of our local law agents."
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"Hostage" ambassador
After the July 26 coup, the ruling military quickly demanded the departure of some 1,500 French soldiers deployed in the country to fight jihadists and denounced several military agreements with Paris.
At the end of August, the military regime also expelled the ambassador of France, Sylvain Itté. He had been stuck inside the diplomatic representation for almost a month before he was able to leave. He was "taken hostage," French President Emmanuel Macron said.
Nigerien companies supplying supplies to the embassy were "dissuaded, even threatened" by the new government, and ended up no longer coming, Sylvain Itté said at the end of September on the TF1 channel.
"We had to take out the rubbish without our friends in the junta noticing," he said, adding: "It was a matter of bringing in food, water, again with ingenuity."
On July 30, a violent demonstration that targeted the France embassy turned into an "attack" and "lasted more than 2 hours and 30 minutes," he said. "On that day, we were collectively in danger and we came very, very close to the tragedy, because there were more than 6,000 people who were there to fight, who were there to enter the embassy," the diplomat said.
With AFP
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