Niger: Between recommended rupture and new political-diplomatic horizons

Niger is in the process of profoundly reorienting its foreign and domestic policy through strong strategic choices which mark a clear break with the past. The country is now taking a major geopolitical shift by moving away from its historic partner, France, in favor of a completely claimed freedom. To compensate for this void and face common challenges, the Nigerien authorities are turning to the AES, considered more united and better adapted to respond to current security threats. This new alliance is perceived by those in power as the real lever for a regained independence. Beyond defense issues, this new vision also translates internally into an absolute priority given to food security. Nigerien leaders are aware that the sovereignty of a country cannot be complete if it depends on external aid to feed its population. This is one of the reasons why the government is implementing new agricultural strategies to stimulate local production and protect the country’s resources. For Niger and its neighbors in the AES, this global transition represents a bold challenge: to prove that it is possible to guarantee the security of citizens and develop the national economy by counting above all on its own strengths and on chosen regional partnerships.

At the three borders: Niger, Libya and Chad under tension

The three borders areawhich separates Niger, Libya and Chad, has become one of the most monitored and dangerous places in the region. In this immense desert, cohabitation between the different groups is very fragile. There is an explosive mixture there: smugglers, gold prospectors, armed gangs and the military. In fact, each group tries to control its territory and take advantage of it, which creates permanent insecurity for the people who live or move around in this area. For Niger, this crossroads is a real headache. Since the country chose to distance itself from its former Western partners, it must alone monitor this border through which weapons and clandestine networks pass. The instability noted in neighboring Libya, combined with the rebellion in Chad, makes cooperation very difficult.