Airlines no longer take French people to Niamey

Airlines serving Niamey, the capital of Niger, have decided to stop carrying French passengers to this destination, AFP learned from sources at the airport on Wednesday. “According to the Nigerian authorities, any passenger with French nationality is no longer permitted to enter Nigerian territory and will therefore not be accepted on board our flights to this destination.”She refers to an internal Air Burkina memo seen by AFP.

“French passengers heading to Niamey can no longer board the plane.” Aircraft from Royal Air Maroc (RAM), “Without special permission from the Nigerian authorities for about a week.”According to a source close to the company. Other companies serving Niamey, namely Ethiopian Airlines, Aski, Tunisian Airlines and Turkish Airlines, did not initially respond to a call from Agence France-Presse to a question about whether they were continuing to transport French citizens to Niger.

Relationships deteriorate

It was also questioned that the Nigerian authorities have not yet confirmed that the French who wish or are forced to come to Niamey are now persona non grata on its territory. Several French nationals were recently turned away upon arrival at Niamey airport, according to airport sources.

Relations between France and Niger have been witnessing a continuous deterioration since the military coup that took place on July 26, 2022, which ousted elected President Mohamed Bazoum. The French Embassy in Niger, which Paris announced would close shortly before Christmas, has officially closed “until a further notice”The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday that it would continue its activities from Paris.