After months of diplomatic row following the military coup in Niamey, Niger and Nigeria resumed official dialogue on Wednesday in the Nigerien capital.
This meeting of high political significance relaunched cooperation mechanisms between the two neighbours, linked by history, geography, and security challenges.
Niger and Nigeria reached a new milestone in the restoration of their bilateral relations with the holding of an official meeting in Niamey on Wednesday, April 16, under the banner of dialogue and fraternity.
The Nigerian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, was welcomed amid a gradual easing of tensions after several months of diplomatic tensions following the seizure of power by the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP) in July 2023.
Abuja had played a leading role in the adoption of sanctions imposed on Niger by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), measures that had deteriorated relations with Niamey.
In recent weeks, signs of easing tensions have increased, notably with the reception in March of the Nigerian Ambassador by Nigerien Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare.
In his opening remarks, the Nigerian representative welcomed the shared desire to “renew the thread of dialogue.” Discussions focused on cross-border security, a sensitive issue in the light of the new border control system implemented by Abuja, which had raised concerns on the Nigerien side.
The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for “more sustained coordination” in the face of regional threats, responding to the expectations expressed by the authorities in Niamey, particularly following Niger’s withdrawal from the Multinational Joint Task Force in the southeast of the country, replaced by the national operation “Nalewa Dole” in Diffa.
Another central point of the discussions was the future of the Niger-Nigeria Joint Commission, created on March 3, 1971, and considered a pillar of bilateral cooperation. Its revival is envisaged in a context of reshaping regional alliances, marked by the withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from ECOWAS in January 2025.
Economic integration projects, including the cross-border railway and the trans-Saharan gas pipeline, were also discussed. These initiatives, viewed as strategic by both parties, aim to strengthen trade and energy exchanges within a dynamic of common development.
Despite tensions, highlighted by Nigerien President Abdourahamane Tiani’s recent accusations of alleged collusion between
Abuja and Paris, this meeting marks a concrete step toward normalization of relations.
Following the discussions, both parties reaffirmed that Niger and Nigeria are united by “blood ties” and a “solidarity of destiny,” calling for the consolidation of these relations in a spirit of mutual respect and lasting cooperation.
AC/Sf/fss/gik/APA