Niger Withdraws from International Organisation of La Francophonie

Niger officially announced its withdrawal from the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) on Monday. The decision was communicated through a note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, addressed to the country’s diplomatic missions.

Signed by Secretary-General Laouali Labo, the note did not specify reasons for the withdrawal but instructed diplomats to relay the decision to their respective jurisdictions. This move follows a period of strained relations between Niger and the OIF since the military coup on July 26, 2023.

In December, the Francophonie suspended Niger from all its bodies, prompting the new government to halt all cooperation with the organization. Niger, a founding member of the OIF, could be the first of several countries to exit, as Burkina Faso has already notified its intention to withdraw, with Mali potentially following suit.

AFRICA/NEWS