France is shutting off its embassy in Niger permanently as tensions between the two nations surge.
The embassy remarks that it is “no longer able to operate normally nor fulfil its missions” because of the restrictions inflicted by Niger’s military government.
The former French ambassador, Sylvain Itté revealed through a letter that the local staff at the embassy have been dismissed.
Niger’s relationship with France has gone awry since the military overturned President Mohamed Bazoum in July.
In September, Mr Itté and some French staff vacated the country, a month after the military regime called for the ambassador’s exit and set up a blockade around the embassy premises in the capital city, Niamey.
The embassy had been ambushed by thousands of pro-junta protestors not long after the coup, but they had been dispersed by Nigerien forces before they could storm the building.
The embassy’s closure announcement is coming shortly before the expiry of the military government’s deadline for the exit of French troops on Friday, December 22.
They had been stationed in the country to help in the fight against jihadist groups associated with both al-Qaeda and Islamic State.
