Niger: Niger Intelligence Agents Expelled From France in Sign of Diplomatic Strain

What the report says

French authorities expelled two Nigerien intelligence officers posted at Niger’s embassy in Paris last month, according to reporting cited by Radio France Internationale and French daily Le Monde. The officers were declared persona non grata on 16 September and later left French territory. One of them was reportedly suspected of monitoring Nigerien opposition figures living in France, though the article notes that detail came from a Nigerien source cited by Le Monde.

The reported expulsions are the latest sign of strained ties between France and Niger after the July 2023 military takeover in Niamey. Since the coup, France has refused to recognize the junta as Niger’s legitimate authority and relations have steadily deteriorated. Niger’s rulers responded by ending military cooperation with France, ordering French forces out of the country and eventually prompting the closure of France’s embassy in Niamey, while Niger’s embassy in Paris remained open.

The article places the episode in a broader regional shift away from France’s long-standing influence in the Sahel. Niger’s government has moved closer to Russia and aligned more closely with military-led neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso through the Alliance of Sahel States. The report also recalls a similar diplomatic dispute involving Mali in 2025, underscoring how intelligence, security and embassy access have become recurring flashpoints in the region.