France has permanently closed its embassy in Niger, where a military coup occurred at the end of August 2023, and has relocated its diplomatic personnel to Paris. This was announced on January 2 by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that over the past five months, the embassy faced “serious obstacles that prevented it from carrying out its duties.” Consular services for French citizens will now be available through other diplomatic representations in the region.
The military coup in Niger took place on July 26, 2023. Since then, the legally elected president of the country, Mohamed Bazoum, has remained in detention.
The situation involved a blockade around the embassy, restrictions on the movement of staff, and the return of the entire diplomatic personnel, who were supposed to go to Niger, “which is a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.”
“The embassy will continue its work from Paris. It will maintain communication with French citizens present in the country and with non-governmental organizations working in the humanitarian sector,” stated the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
