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ECOWAS risks losing US$1bn in investments due to withdrawal of its three coup-hit members

Trade between Nigeria and neighboring Niger has bounced back since the West African bloc ECOWAS lifted sanctions on the latter coup-hit country, just as the president of the ECOWAS Commission admits Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso’s withdrawal will cost the regional bloc as much as US$1 billion. In January 2024, the three countries led by military […]

Africa Algeria Columns Headlines International

Racism at heart of brewing tension between Algeria and Niger

Niger is becoming the next country to be targeted by Algeria’s hostile acts that are rooted in a racist attitude among Algerian state officials towards a neighborhood where Algiers has sowed discord with most neighbors. At the heart of the new discord is the recurrent issue of Algerian mistreatment of Sub-Saharan migrants and Niger nationals […]

Africa Algeria Headlines International

Niger condemns Algeria’s violent treatment of Sub-Saharan migrants

Niger government summoned Algeria’s ambassador to protest against the violent treatment suffered by Nigerien migrants who have been suffering rights breaches in southern Algeria. The showdown is the latest in a series of events that drew the two countries apart, starting from the refusal of Niger’s new leadership of an Algerian mediation in the country. […]

Africa Headlines International

Niger’s junta chief talks ‘security cooperation’ with Russia’s Putin amid Western fears

Russian President Vladimir Putin and the chief of Niger’s military junta, Abdourahmane Tiani, had an important phone call on Tuesday (26 March), the Kremlin has revealed, adding that both men discussed “security cooperation” and security concerns in the Sahel region. The Russian leader and the chairman of Niger’s National Council also reportedly spoke about “strengthening […]

Africa Americas International

Niger: US military bases revoked after Biden officials’ warning about ties to Russia and Iran

Niamey revoked its military cooperation with the United States and ordered US troops to leave the country after senior US diplomatic and military officials recently warned about Niger’s growing ties to Russia and Iran, the Pentagon said Monday (18 March). Niger’s military government on Saturday (16 March) revoked a major accord known as the status […]

Africa Americas Headlines International

US Sahel strategy in disarray as Niger ends military cooperation

The US counter-terrorism strategy in the Sahel is facing a tough test after Niger’s military rulers asked the US troops to leave the country, revoking a military cooperation deal. The Wall Street Journal reported that the revocation came after senior US officials accused the country’s ruling junta of secretly exploring a deal to allow Iran […]

Africa International

Niger suspends military cooperation with US over ‘condescending attitude’

Niger has broken off “with immediate effect” its military cooperation agreement with the United States, the West African country’s military government announced on Saturday (16 March), adding that the US military presence in the territory is no longer justified. The declaration read by the ruling junta’s spokesman Colonel Amadou Abdramane came just a day after […]

Africa Headlines International

Geopolitics of Sahel coups: doubts linger about ECOWAS’ quest for reconciliation

Despite the recent decision by the ECOWAS to lift its sanctions imposed on Niger, the stalemate between the regional bloc and the three coup-hit Sahelian countries of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger lingers on. Observers and analysts have pondered if the relations between the three junta-ruled countries and the Economic Community of West African States […]

Africa Finance Headlines International

Nigeria secures financial requirements for Niger rail link

Nigeria said it had secured 1.3 billion dollars needed to build a rail connection with neighboring Niger, a landlocked country. The news was announced by Nigeria’s transport minister Ahmed Alkali who said the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) would provide 85 percent of the money while the Nigerian government would provide 15 percent. The […]

Africa Energy Headlines International

Niger to start exporting oil to Benin in April

Niger is expected to increase its oil production five-fold thanks to a pipeline linking the country to Benin, which will start operating in April. Niger military ruler had announced that the initial shipment would take place in January this year but sources told S&P Global Commodity Insights that first oil deliveries will only take place […]