Niger Clarifies It Ordered Recall of EU Ambassador Over Sovereignty Violations

The Niger government has clarified that the recall of the European Union (EU) ambassador to Niger, Salvador Pinto Da França, was initiated by Niger, not the European Union as widely reported.

The government also debunked reports saying the EU recalled Da França due to interference by the Nigerien transitional authorities.

It will be recalled that the EU recalled its envoy on Saturday after Niger’s military rulers accused him of distributing €1.3 million in flood relief to NGOs without prior approval. The EU rejected the allegations, expressing “profound disagreement.”

However, the government, in a statement through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Nigeriens Abroad, clarified that it ordered the recall of Da França from its country for refusing and failing to respect its authority and sovereignty, citing unauthorised and non-transparent humanitarian aid operations.

According to the ministry, Niger did not request international humanitarian aid from the EU following the floods, as the government, in all sovereignty, had decided to take charge of the flood-related damages from its own funds.

The ministry also stated that announcements of this unsolicited aid from the EU appeared on social media two weeks before Nigerien authorities were officially informed, a move it described as contrary to established diplomatic practices.

Worse, despite the above, the aid was delivered to the regions through NGOs chosen by the Delegation of the EU in Niamey without transparency or prior approval, the ministry added.

This led to a formal summons of Da França, on October 14, 2024. During the meeting, the ambassador was instructed to cease unauthorised operations. However, the government observed that these activities continued despite the warning.

In view of this stubbornness which denotes a notorious lack of respect for the Nigerien authorities, the Government has come to the conclusion that collaboration with the Ambassador of the European Union, Mr Salvador Pinto Da França is no longer possible and has therefore officially requested his recall and replacement as soon as possible, the ministry said.

It reaffirmed it’s commitment to working with all nations and international organisations, provided its sovereignty, dignity, strategic choices, and the interests of its people are respected.

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