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PARIS, France, Oct 9 : France has declared two Nigerien intelligence officers based at Niger's embassy in Paris "persona non grata", forcing them to leave the country, a diplomatic source said Friday.

The source confirmed reports by the daily Le Monde, specifying that the "two staff members of the Niger Embassy in Paris were declared persona non grata on September 16 and have left French territory."

"They are two officers from the Nigerien intelligence services who no longer had any reason to remain in the absence of cooperation between the two countries," the source added.

Niger has been ruled by a military junta since a coup d'etat in July 2023 that overthrew elected president Mohamed Bazoum, who has been detained by the military ever since.

The military-run government has turned its back on the West and in particular its former colonial ruler France, in favour of closer ties with Russia as it grapples with long-running jihadist violence.

In December 2023, France permanently closed its embassy in Niamey, saying the mission was no longer able to function due to the restrictions imposed by the junta.

Niger's embassy in Paris has remained open despite icy relations.