Niger’s military junta has ordered the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to leave the country immediately, a source informed AFP on Wednesday.
The junta has ended its agreements with the ICRC, and some foreign staff have already begun to depart, with the organization closing its office in the capital, Niamey, on Tuesday.
Nigerien media reported that the government had instructed the closure of the ICRC’s offices and the immediate departure of foreign personnel, though no specific reasons for the decision were provided.
The Red Cross had been operating in Niger since 1990, primarily focusing on providing aid to victims of violence from jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS.
Since the military coup in July 2023, the junta has emphasized “national sovereignty” and has strained relations with former colonial power France, seeking stronger ties with other military juntas in Mali and Burkina Faso, as well as Russia.
In January, Niger’s interior minister, General Mohamed Toumba, announced measures to closely monitor and supervise NGOs, citing investigations that revealed links between certain NGOs and groups supporting terrorism.
Niger had already expelled the French humanitarian NGO Acted and local organization APBE in November, revoking their operating licenses.
Since the coup, Niger has also expelled French and US troops working to combat jihadist threats, as well as the French ambassador.
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2Z
