France is preparing to close its embassy in Niger

The French are also withdrawing their troops from Niger.

The French Foreign Ministry has decided to close its diplomatic mission in Niger, which is located in West Africa, the Associated Press reports.

Employees of the French Embassy who are citizens of Niger have already received the relevant notification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the embassy will be closed for an indefinite period of time as it is no longer able to operate.

Relations between Niger and France deteriorated after the coup d'état that took place in this country in July.

A group of high-ranking military officers took over the government and overthrew the elected former president, Mohammad Bazum. The administration of the junta (military reactionary terrorist group - trans. ) has asked France to close its bases in the country and withdraw its soldiers.

Earlier, the head of Niger's military authorities, Abdurrahman Tchiani, said that during the entire period of French troops' stay in the country, they not only did not defeat terrorism, but also contributed to the rise of militants.

Meanwhile, Paris is withdrawing its troops from the country at the request of Niger's leadership. The process should be completed by the end of the year.

Niger remains one of the last allies in West Africa for France, which has lost partners in the region one after another after the coups in Mali and Burkina Faso.

After the coup, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) threatened military intervention against the junta administration in Niger, but the two sides later opted for negotiations.