Niger Military Junta Bans French Humanitarian NGO Acted

Niger's military rulers on Tuesday withdrew French humanitarian NGO Acted's licence to operate amid tensions with its former colonial ruler.

Acted has been working in the impoverished country since 2009, notably tending to displaced people in a nation hit by jihadist violence.

"The licence to operate accorded to the NGO named Acted... has been withdrawn from Tuesday," the interior ministry said, without giving a reason for the move.

Another non-profit, Niger's APBE, likewise saw its licence withdrawn.

"The march towards national sovereignty is in full progress in Niger!" said pro-government personality and influencer Ibrahim Bana on social media.

Since taking power in a coup in July 2023, the Sahel nation's military rulers have turned their backs on Paris, instead forging ties with fellow juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali -- as well as Russia.

Since the coup, Niger's authorities have expelled both the French soldiers fighting against the region's persistent jihadist threat and the French ambassador.