France has ordered two Nigerien intelligence officers to leave its territory, a move that underscores just how far relations between Paris and Niamey have deteriorated. The two men, officially assigned to Niger’s embassy in Paris, were declared persona non grata and left France within days.

Two agents ordered out of France

The two officers belonged to Niger’s Directorate General for Documentation and External Security (DGDSE), the country’s intelligence service, and held diplomatic posts at the Nigerien embassy in Paris. They were declared persona non grata on 16 September and departed French soil three days later.

Why Paris took the decision

A French diplomatic source said the agents’ presence could no longer be justified because bilateral cooperation between the two countries had effectively ceased. A Nigerien source, meanwhile, claimed that one of the men was suspected of conducting surveillance on Nigerien opposition figures living in France.

The expulsions come at a time when cooperation channels between the two capitals have shrunk dramatically. They also highlight the difficulties diplomatic missions face when political trust between states erodes over the long term.

July 2023: the breaking point

To understand this latest episode, it is necessary to go back to 26 July 2023, when President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by soldiers grouped in the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), led by General Abdourahamane Tiani.

Paris, which backed the ousted president and demanded a return to constitutional order, refused to recognise the legitimacy of the new military authorities. Niamey, for its part, criticised France’s stance and rejected what it saw as interference in its internal affairs.

The crisis quickly moved beyond political statements. On 25 August 2023, Nigerien authorities gave France’s ambassador, Sylvain Itté, 48 hours to leave the country. Paris disputed the decision, arguing that the new authorities lacked the legitimacy to end his posting.

After weeks of standoff, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on 24 September 2023 that the ambassador would return home and that French troops stationed in Niger would be withdrawn. The military pullout was completed by the end of 2023. That sequence marked a major turning point in relations between the two countries.

A cycle of expulsions and countermeasures

The crisis did not stop at the ambassador’s departure. It brought restrictions on nationals, visas and diplomatic activities.

In February 2024, several French citizens were turned back on arrival in Niamey despite holding valid travel documents. According to accounts gathered at the time, Nigerien authorities were demanding specific authorisations for certain French travellers. Paris had also revoked several visas granted to Nigerien nationals, in a context of reciprocal retaliation.

France’s embassy in Niamey later closed its doors, with French authorities citing serious obstacles to its work. In May 2024, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs confirmed to the Senate that the closure would continue until further notice.

The current decision targeting two Nigerien agents thus fits into a long series of measures that have gradually reduced the scope for direct dialogue between the two states.

A deeper political and security rift

Beyond the expulsions, the Franco-Nigerien crisis reflects a political reorientation in Niger. The military authorities in Niamey have steadily strengthened ties with Mali and Burkina Faso, both also led by military governments that took power through coups. The three countries formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which presents itself as a vehicle for reinforcing the political and security sovereignty of its members.

At the same time, the French military presence — long presented by Paris as a key component of the fight against armed groups in the region — has ended in Niger. Nigerien authorities have repeatedly criticised French policy in the Sahel, while Paris has defended its actions and denounced the obstacles placed in the way of its representatives.

This shift is part of a regional context in which sovereignty, security, military partnerships and control over resources occupy a central place in public debate.

The expulsion of the two agents also serves as a reminder that even when political relations are deeply damaged, diplomatic missions and intelligence activities remain sensitive matters. The official presence of personnel linked to intelligence services in an embassy is not, in itself, unusual in international relations. Any allegation of clandestine activity, however, must be examined in the light of verifiable evidence.

What next for dialogue between Paris and Niamey?

The new French measure is a further indicator of how weak bilateral relations have become. It does not necessarily mean a total diplomatic break, since Niger’s embassy in Paris remains open. It does confirm, however, that cooperation between the two countries remains heavily constrained.

For Nigerien and French populations alike, the consequences go beyond the diplomatic arena. Reduced institutional exchanges can complicate consular procedures, economic relations, cooperation projects and consultation mechanisms on regional security.

The central question remains what conditions might allow a possible normalisation. That would require functioning communication channels, a clarification of disputes and the political will on both sides to resume dialogue, without abandoning positions each government considers essential.

For now, the expulsion of the two Nigerien agents appears as another episode in a crisis that began in July 2023 and whose effects continue to be felt. Between mistrust, accusations and strategic distancing, Paris and Niamey still face a major challenge: preserving the means of diplomatic communication even as the trust that once underpinned them has been considerably eroded.

By Yacouba Ouédraogo — Journalist