Niger Restricts European Visa Access in Retaliation for Citizen Difficulties
Niger Restricts European Visa Access in Retaliation for Citizen Difficulties
In a "reciprocal" move, the new restrictions limit where European nationals can obtain visas for the Sahelian nation, as Nigerien citizens have difficulty securing visas from EU embassies.
"From now on, the embassies of Niger in Geneva, Ankara and Moscow are the only ones authorized to issue entry visas to Niger for nationals of the following countries: Italy, the Netherlands, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Belgium, the United Kingdom," Niger's Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare stated.
Diplomats and service passport holders can obtain visas from Niger's embassy in Brussels, Sangare noted.
The decision comes after Niger complained that its citizens must travel to neighboring countries to apply for European visas, and a request for European embassies in Niamey to issue visas on-site reportedly went unanswered.
Tensions between Niger and France, its former colonial power that previously handled Schengen visa applications for Nigeriens, have been particularly high since the 2023 military takeover.
In a separate but relevant development, Nigeria, another West African country, has pledged to implement reciprocal measures for US citizens seeking Nigerian visas. This follows the US announcement requiring Nigerian visa applicants to disclose five years of social media history.
Subscribe to @sputnik_africa
