Niger has criticised France following the expulsion of two Nigerien intelligence officials from Paris, adding to diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
The officials, who were assigned to Niger’s embassy in France, were declared persona non grata on September 16, 2026.
They subsequently left French territory on September 19.
According to Business Insider Africa, citing French and Nigerien sources, the expulsions followed the breakdown of intelligence cooperation between Paris and Niamey.
Nigerien Justice Minister Alio Daouda criticised the decision, accusing France of showing ingratitude towards individuals who had previously worked alongside French forces.
France expels two Nigerien intelligence officials
The two expelled officials reportedly worked for Niger’s General Directorate of Documentation and External Security.
A French diplomatic source said their continued presence in France was no longer justified because intelligence cooperation between the two countries had ended.
The decision reflects the deterioration of relations between Paris and Niamey following Niger’s military takeover in July 2023.
France previously maintained a significant military presence in Niger as part of regional counterterrorism operations.
However, relations deteriorated after Niger’s military authorities demanded the withdrawal of French troops.
The latest expulsions highlight the continuing diplomatic difficulties between the two governments.
Nigerien minister accuses France of ingratitude
Nigerien Justice Minister Alio Daouda publicly criticised France over the expulsions.
He argued that the decision failed to recognise the previous cooperation between Nigerien and French security personnel.
According to reporting cited by Business Insider Africa, one of the expelled officials, Abdoul-Razak Ibrahim Moussa Toro, had previously received medical treatment in France.
Toro reportedly suffered serious injuries during a joint military operation involving French forces in 2014.
He was subsequently treated in France following the incident.
Despite an appeal against his expulsion, French authorities maintained their decision.
Toro left France with his family on September 19.
Daouda described the expulsion as an example of France failing to acknowledge those who had previously served alongside it.
His remarks reflect Niger’s criticism of France’s handling of relations with its former security partners.
Allegations involving Nigerien opposition activists
The expulsions have also attracted attention following allegations concerning one of the officials’ activities in France.
According to a Nigerien source cited in the reporting, one official had allegedly monitored Nigerien opposition activists living in France.
However, the allegation has not been independently verified.
The available reporting does not establish whether French authorities relied on that allegation when ordering the expulsions.
There is also no indication that either official faced criminal charges in connection with the matter.
France’s stated explanation focused on the end of intelligence cooperation with Niger.
The distinction is important because diplomatic expulsion does not necessarily indicate criminal wrongdoing.
Under diplomatic practice, a host country can declare a foreign diplomat persona non grata without publicly providing detailed reasons.
France and Niger relations remain strained
The dispute comes amid broader tensions between France and several military-led governments in West Africa.
Niger’s relationship with Paris changed significantly after the 2023 military takeover.
French military forces subsequently withdrew from the country, ending a major chapter of security cooperation.
The breakdown also affected diplomatic relations and intelligence exchanges.
Niger’s military authorities have increasingly pursued alternative international partnerships while reducing cooperation with France.
Meanwhile, Paris has adjusted its regional security relationships following the withdrawal of its forces from several Sahel countries.
The latest diplomatic expulsions demonstrate that disagreements between the two countries remain unresolved.
Similar diplomatic dispute involving Mali
The decision involving Nigerien officials follows a similar dispute between France and Mali in September 2025.
At the time, France ordered two Malian intelligence officials to leave its territory.
The expulsions followed the arrest of a French intelligence officer, Yann Vézilier, in Mali’s capital, Bamako.
Malian authorities accused Vézilier of involvement in an alleged plot to destabilise the military government led by Assimi Goïta.
France rejected those accusations and maintained that Vézilier was an accredited member of its diplomatic mission.
The dispute led Paris to suspend counterterrorism cooperation with Mali.
According to the reporting, a Malian court later sentenced Vézilier to 20 years in prison.
However, he was pardoned and released in August 2026.
The case illustrated the extent of diplomatic tensions between France and Mali.
Diplomatic tensions continue in the Sahel
The expulsion of Nigerien intelligence officials adds another disagreement to France’s changing relationship with countries in the Sahel.
Nigerien officials have criticised the decision, while France has linked the expulsions to the end of intelligence cooperation.
The allegations concerning opposition surveillance remain unverified, and no criminal charges against the expelled officials have been reported.
It remains unclear whether the latest dispute will lead to further diplomatic measures.
For now, the expulsions underline the continuing challenges facing relations between France and Niger following the breakdown of their former security partnership.