The expulsion of two Nigerien intelligence officers from Paris marks a decisive turning point in a diplomatic crisis that has been building since the military takeover in Niamey in July 2023. France has declared the two men — officially assigned to Niger’s embassy in Paris — persona non grata, a move that underscores just how far the relationship between the two countries has deteriorated.
Two agents ordered out of France
France has expelled two operatives of the Direction générale de la documentation et de la sécurité extérieure (DGDSE), Niger’s foreign intelligence service, who were formally serving at the Nigerien embassy in Paris. The two men were declared persona non grata on 16 September and left French territory three days later, according to reporting by the French daily Le Monde on 8 October 2026.
A French diplomatic source cited in the report said their presence could no longer be justified because bilateral cooperation between Paris and Niamey has effectively ceased. A Nigerien source, quoted in the same account, maintained that one of the agents was suspected of conducting surveillance on Nigerien opposition figures living in France.
The measure comes at a time when cooperation channels between the two capitals have shrunk dramatically. It also highlights the difficulties diplomatic missions face when political trust between states erodes over the long term.
July 2023: the breaking point
To grasp the significance of this latest affair, it is necessary to go back to 26 July 2023, when President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by soldiers grouped within the Conseil national pour la sauvegarde de la patrie (CNSP), under the leadership of General Abdourahamane Tiani.
Paris, which had backed the deposed president and demanded the restoration of constitutional order, refused to recognize the legitimacy of the new military authorities. Niamey, for its part, denounced France’s stance and rejected what it considered interference in the country’s 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announced on 24 September 2023 that the ambassador would return home and that French troops stationed in Niger would be withdrawn.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.
Mutual expulsions and retaliatory measures
The crisis was not confined to the departure of the French ambassador. It also brought restrictions on nationals, visas and diplomatic activities.
In February 2024, Le Monde reported that several French citizens had been turned back on arrival in Niamey despite holding valid travel documents. According to accounts gathered by the newspaper, Nigerien authorities were then demanding specific authorizations for certain French travelers. Paris had also revoked several visas granted to Nigerien nationals, in a context of reciprocal retaliation.
France’s embassy in Niamey subsequently closed, with French authorities citing serious obstacles to the exercise of its missions. 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 progressively narrowed the possibilities for direct dialogue between the two states.
A deeper political and security rupture
Beyond the expulsions, the Franco-Nigerien crisis reflects a political reorientation by Niger. The military authorities in Niamey have gradually strengthened ties with Mali and Burkina Faso, both also led by military regimes that came to power through coups. The three countries formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which has expressed a desire to reinforce the political and security sovereignty of its members.
At the same time, the French military presence — long presented by Paris as an important element in the fight against armed groups in the region — has ended in Niger. Nigerien authorities have stepped up criticism of French policy in the Sahel, while Paris has defended its actions and denounced obstacles placed in the way of its representatives.
This shift is part of a regional context in which questions of sovereignty, security, military partnerships and control of 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 degraded, diplomatic missions and intelligence activities remain sensitive subjects. The official presence of personnel linked to intelligence services in an embassy is not, in itself, unusual in international relations. However, any accusation of clandestine activity must be examined in the light of verifiable evidence.
What future for dialogue between Paris and Niamey?
The latest French measure is a further indicator of the weakness of bilateral relations. It does not necessarily mean a total diplomatic break, since Niger’s embassy in Paris remains open according to information published by Le Monde. It does confirm, however, that cooperation between the two countries remains severely hampered.
For both Nigerien and French populations, 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 the conditions for any eventual normalization. That would require functional communication channels, a clarification of disputes and political will on both sides to resume dialogue without abandoning positions each government considers essential.
In the meantime, 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 distrust, accusations and strategic distancing, Paris and Niamey still face a major challenge: preserving the means of diplomatic communication even as the trust that underpinned them has been considerably eroded.
