The United States wants to re-establish ties with Niger. After visits to Burkina Faso and Mali, a senior American official met with the junta that took power by force in 2023. This demonstrates America’s willingness to resume cooperation with these sovereigntist juntas that had turned away from some Western partners.
The US had suspended much of their development aid and military cooperation after the arrival of military regimes in these three Sahelian countries between 2020 and 2023. Niger had demanded and achieved the departure of American soldiers engaged in the fight against jihadism in September 2024.
But since the return to power of President Donald Trump in early 2025, the United States has taken on a new approach: making commercial diplomacy a central focus of their engagement in Africa.
Towards a new economic cooperation
On Friday, the senior official from the Bureau of African Affairs at the US State Department, Nick Checker, was received in Niamey by the Nigerien Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bakary Yaou Sangaré, and Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine.
In Niamey, the American emissary came to “present the new vision of his country aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Niger and the United States”, stated the Nigerien Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a communique on Saturday.
“All exchanges took place in an atmosphere of serenity and mutual respect. Both parties expressed their willingness to revive cooperation on new foundations and work towards rebuilding trust,” added the ministry.
Topics discussed included “economic and commercial cooperation” as well as “the fight against terrorism,” according to the same source. The discussions are expected to continue “while respecting national sovereignty and mutually agreed priorities,” the ministry added.
