Relations between Niger and Nigeria show encouraging signs of easing tensions after a period of heightened strain. The visit of Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar to Niamey on April 16 marks an important step in this bilateral reconciliation process. This diplomatic initiative follows a first meeting in March between Niger’s Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangaré and the Nigerian ambassador to Niamey. During that meeting, both parties discussed shared security concerns, particularly in border areas where terrorist and criminal groups operate.
Niger had previously expressed concerns about new border control measures implemented by Abuja, which were deemed too restrictive for local populations. However, both sides agreed on the need for enhanced technical cooperation to address these common challenges. Alongside these diplomatic developments, Niamey has reorganized its military strategy in the Diffa region through the launch of Operation “Nalewa Dole.” This move aligns with the country’s new security orientation following its withdrawal from the Multinational Joint Task Force and its clear intent to establish defensive autonomy.
This bilateral rapprochement comes in a particularly volatile regional context. In January, Niger, along with Mali and Burkina Faso, confirmed its withdrawal from ECOWAS, creating an unprecedented rift in West Africa’s regional framework. Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama attempted mediation in March to preserve regional ties, but without immediate success. Relations between Niamey and Abuja had significantly deteriorated after the July 2023 coup in Niger, when Nigeria supported ECOWAS’s economic sanctions. Despite the signing of a security cooperation protocol in August 2024, mistrust persisted, with the Nigerien president even accusing Nigeria of colluding with foreign powers.
Minister Tuggar’s visit thus represents a crucial opportunity to restore mutual trust. Regional observers view it as a sign of potential normalization between these two neighbors, whose security and economic interdependence remains essential, despite recent political differences.
This emerging détente could positively impact the entire Sahel region, where stability largely depends on cooperation between states facing similar security threats and the challenges of political transition.
