Niger has announced its withdrawal from the International Organization of Francophonie (OIF), effective immediately.
The decision was communicated in a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the country’s ambassadors, stating that Niger would “sovereignly withdraw” from the organization.
This move comes after Niger was suspended from OIF proceedings in December 2023, following a military coup in July of the same year.
The OIF’s Permanent Council had called for the immediate release of President Mohamed Bazoum and the restoration of constitutional order.
Niger’s withdrawal from the OIF may be seen as a further assertion of its independence from French influence.
The country’s military rulers have been taking steps to reclaim control over French uranium mining operations, a critical resource for France’s nuclear energy sector.
It’s worth noting that Niger’s decision to leave the OIF follows similar actions by other West African countries.
Mali and Burkina Faso have already been suspended from OIF proceedings due to military coups in 2021 and 2022, respectively.