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France closes embassy in Niger

Months after the coup, Paris says conditions on the ground are ‘making it impossible’ for the embassy to carry out its missions.

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France has officially closed its embassy in Niger, the French foreign affairs ministry announced Tuesday, reports Politico

The decision — a rare move that shows how strained the relationship between the two countries has become — comes after Paris was forced to pull out French troops from the African country after this summer's coup.

"The embassy will continue to operate from Paris. In particular, it will maintain links with French nationals on the ground, and with NGOs working in the humanitarian sector, which we continue to fund for the direct benefit of the most vulnerable populations," the French ministry's statement reads.

Relations between Paris, a former colonial power, and Niamey significantly soured after a military junta forcibly took power in July.

Read more of this report from Politico