France expels two Niger intelligence officers, diplomatic source says

France declared two Nigerien intelligence officers based at Niger's embassy in Paris persona non grata, forcing them to leave the country, a diplomatic source said Friday.

The diplomatic source confirmed reports by Le Monde and said the two staff members of Niger's embassy in Paris were declared persona non grata on September 16 and had left French territory.

The source said the two were officers from Niger's intelligence services who "no longer had any reason to remain" because there was no cooperation between the two countries.

Niger has been ruled by a military junta since a July 2023 coup that overthrew elected president Mohamed Bazoum, who has been detained by the military since then.

The military-run government has moved away from the West, especially former colonial ruler France, and sought closer ties with Russia while facing long-running jihadist violence.

France permanently closed its embassy in Niamey in December 2023, saying the mission could no longer function because of restrictions imposed by the junta. Niger's embassy in Paris has remained open despite the strained relations.