2023-12-21 21:27:38
France has decided to close its embassy in Niger, where “it is no longer able to function normally or carry out its missions”, we learned on Thursday from diplomatic sources, even as Paris completes the withdrawal of his troops in the country.
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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”, we learned on Thursday December 21 from diplomatic sources.
This extremely rare measure comes after Niger announced on December 12 the departure of all French soldiers deployed in the country as part of the anti-jihadist fight by December 22, that is to say this Friday.
A rupture which comes after months of tensions with the generals who took power in Niamey during 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, with the departure of most of our diplomatic staff,” explained the diplomatic sources.
“The French 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 soon,” they continued. “It is in this context that we had to proceed with the dismissal and compensation of our local law agents.”
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Hostage Ambassador
After the coup d’état of July 26, the military in power quickly demanded the departure of some 1,500 French soldiers deployed in the country to fight against the jihadists and denounced several military agreements concluded with Paris.
The military regime also pronounced at the end of August the expulsion of the French ambassador, Sylvain Itté. He remained stuck inside the diplomatic representation for almost a month before being able to leave. He was “taken hostage”, commented French President Emmanuel Macron.
Nigerien companies supplying supplies to the embassy were “dissuaded, even threatened” by the new power, and ended up no longer coming, Sylvain Itté declared at the end of September on the TF1 channel.
“We had to take out the trash without our friends in the junta noticing,” he said, adding: “It was about bringing in food and water, again by showing ingenuity.”
On July 30, a violent demonstration which had targeted the French embassy turned into an “attack” and had “lasted more than 2.5 hours”, he said. “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 it out, who were there to enter the embassy” , the diplomat reported.
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