The government of Niger has called on the European Union to replace its ambassador, Salvador Pinto da Franca, amid growing tensions regarding emergency aid distribution.
This request follows the EU’s decision to recall its envoy after Niger’s military leaders accused the ambassador of disbursing €1.3 million in flood relief funds to NGOs without obtaining prior approval. The EU dismissed these accusations, citing “profound disagreement.”
Niger’s foreign ministry issued a statement on Sunday asserting that the ambassador had continued “unauthorized operations” despite warnings in October. Declaring further cooperation unfeasible, the ministry requested his swift replacement.
Severe flooding since June has claimed over 300 lives and displaced more than 1.1 million people across Niger. Despite the scale of the disaster, the government maintains it did not request EU aid and plans to address the crisis independently.
Relations between Niger and the EU have deteriorated significantly following the military coup in July 2023. The nation has distanced itself from its former colonial ties with France and the broader European bloc.
