France shuts down embassy in Niger sine die amidst soaring ties

France announced Tuesday January 2 the closure of its Embassy in Niger’s capital of Niamey “until further notice”, citing major concerns.

“For the past five months, our Embassy has been subjected to major obstacles that have made it impossible to do its job: a blockade around the Embassy, restrictions on employees’ movements, and the turning away of all diplomatic personnel who were supposed to arrive in Niger, in clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also indicated that the Embassy will continue operating from Paris while consular activities will be carried out by French consulates in the region.

The decision comes amid tense diplomatic relations between the two countries since a junta seized power in the African country on July 26 after removing West-backed leader Mohamed Bazoum.

The junta scrapped early August 2023 military agreements with the former colonial power. Paris has refused during many months to recognize the new leaders who have been enjoying international recognition from the U.S., Saudi Arabia and last month from the UN.

The Nigerien new authorities forced France to complete late last month pullout of its forces positioned in the West African country for many years.