ALBAWABA - France's foreign ministry announced Tuesday the closure of its embassy in Niger "until further notice". However, it vowed to continue working with NGOs.
The ministry said in a statement that the French embassy "will continue its activities from Paris."
It maintained: "In particular, it will maintain a link with the French nationals present on site, and with the NGOs working in the humanitarian sector, which we continue to finance, for the direct benefit of the most vulnerable populations."
A coup took place in Niger in July where military officers ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and accused him of failing to combat Islamist terrorists in the Sahel.
Weeks after the coup in Niger, the newly formed government in Niamey declared the French ambassador Sylvain Itte persona non grata and called for the withdrawal of French troops from the country.
The French government was forced to withdraw some 1,500 troops from the Niger in December.
