Niger is said to have "terminated its agreements" with the ICRC and some foreign staff have begun to leave the West African country. According to the source, the organization has also closed its office in the capital Niamey on Tuesday – which is also reported by Nigerien media.
No reason has been given for the decision.
The Red Cross has been working in Niger since 1990 and has recently focused on helping people affected by violence perpetrated by jihadist groups linked to the terrorist organizations al-Qaida and IS.
Since the military junta took power in Niger in 2023, the leaders have made "national sovereignty" a guiding principle. The junta's relationship with the former colonial power France is cool, and instead, they have formed ties with the juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali, as well as Russia.
Since the takeover, Niger has expelled both French and American soldiers, as well as the French ambassador.
