Why is Niger Strategically Important?

doi: 10.32563/hsz.2024.1.3

Abstract

At first glance, it may seem that Niger does not have the strategic assets that would make it a dominant player in the region compared to other West African states such as Senegal, Ghana or Nigeria. But the reality is that the military coup of July 2023 has disproved this claim. Niger is one of the most important exporters of uranium ore in the Sahel, the country with the highest fertility rate in the world and previously considered the most stable military and political ally of the US and European armed forces fighting jihadism.

Keywords:

Niger coup Sahel migration jihadist organisations instability

References

AFD (2022): Tackling Hunger in Niger – with Nutritious, Locally Produced Cereals and Flour. Online: https://www.afd.fr/en/actualites/tackling-hunger-niger-nutritious-locally-produced-cereals-and-flour

Africa Center for Strategic Studies (2023a): African Militant Islamist Group-Linked Fatalities at All-Time High. Online: https://africacenter.org/spotlight/africa-militant-islamist-group-linked-fatalities-at-all-time-high/

Africa Center for Strategic Studies (2023b): Attempted Coup in Niger: Backgrounder. Online: https://africacenter.org/spotlight/attempted-coup-in-niger-an-explainer/

Africa News (2023): Nigeria Cuts Electricity to Niger after Coup. Africa News, 2 August, 2023. Online: https://www.africanews.com/2023/08/02/nigeria-cuts-electricity-to-niger-after-coup/

AJALA, Olayinka (2023): What Caused the Coup in Niger? An Expert Outlines Three Driving Factors. The Conversation, 2023. július 31. Online: https://theconversation.com/what-caused-the-coup-in-niger-an-expert-outlines-three-driving-factors-210721

Al Jazeera (2023a): US Military Resumes Drone, Crewed Aircraft Operations in Post-Coup Niger. Al Jazeera, 2023. szeptember 14. Online: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/14/us-military-resumes-drone-crewed-aircraft-operations-in-post-coup-niger

Al Jazeera (2023b): French Forces Depart Niger, US Declares Military Rulers Conducted Coup. Al Jazeera, 2023. október 11. Online: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/11/french-forces-depart-niger-us-declares-military-rulers-conducted-coup

BRUNELIN, Stephanie et al. (2022): Responding Faster to Droughts with Satellites and Adaptive Social Protection in Niger. World Bank Blogs, March, 2022. 10 Online: https://blogs.worldbank.org/climatechange/responding-faster-droughts-satellites-and-adaptive-social-protection-niger

CIA (2023): Explore All Countries – Niger. Online: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/niger/

COLVILLE, Alex (2023): What are China’s Plans for Niger Post-Coup? The China Project, 2023. augusztus 8. Online: https://thechinaproject.com/2023/08/08/what-are-chinas-plans-for-niger-post-coup/

Crisis Group (2023): The Attempted Coup in Niger: Avoiding Armed Conflict. Online: https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/sahel/niger/tentative-de-coup-detat-au-niger-eviter-la-confrontation-armee

DANGWAL, Ashish (2023): China’s $800 Million Dam Project In Jeopardy As Niger Coup Tensions Lead To Construction Pause. The Eurasian Times, 19 March, 2023. Online: https://www.eurasiantimes.com/edited-chinese-800-million-dam-project-in-jeopardy-as-nige/

ESMA ARSLAN, Fatma (2023): Western Military Presence in Niger Faces Uncertainty Following Coup. Anadolu Agency, 2023. augusztus 2. Online: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/western-military-presence-in-niger-faces-uncertainty-following-coup/2959863

Euratom Supply Agency [é. n.]: Market Observatory. Online: https://euratom-supply.ec.europa.eu/activities/market-observatory_en

FAO (2023): Country Briefs – Niger. Online: https://www.fao.org/giews/countrybrief/country.jsp?code=NER

HARRIS, Paul – HIRSCH, Afua (2013): US Signs Deal with Niger to Operate Military Drones in West African State. The Guardian, 2013. január 29. Online: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/29/niger-approves-american-surveillance-drones

MAAD, Assma (2023): How Dependent is France on Niger's Uranium? Le Monde, 2023. augusztus 4. Online: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/les-decodeurs/article/2023/08/04/how-dependent-is-france-on-niger-s-uranium_6080772_8.html

MEDNICK, Sam (2023): Power Cuts in Niger Threaten to Spoil Millions of Vaccines as Sanctions Take their Toll, UN Says. AP News, 2023. augusztus 21. Online: https://apnews.com/article/niger-coup-unicef-vaccines-5e7d6610635b0aa2ffe6570cc417930e

MOHAMMED SALIH, Zeinab (2023): Niger Observers Link Coup to President’s Support for EU Migration Policies. The Guardian, 2023. augusztus 23. Online: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/23/niger-observers-link-coup-to-president-mohamed-bazoum-support-of-eu-migration-policies-people-smuggling

N. RÓZSA, Erzsébet – MARSAI, Viktor (2022): From a Fragmented Cooperation to an Integrated Approach – The Emergence of the Maghreb and Sahel Region and its Consequences for the European Union. Online: https://www.euromesco.net/publication/from-a-fragmented-cooperation-to-an-integrated-approach-the-emergence-of-the-maghreb-and-sahel-region-and-its-consequences-for-the-european-union/

NASR, Wassim – RICH, David (2023): Fewer Drones, Aerial Assets: France Plans Reduction of Military Presence in Niger. France24, 6 September, 2023. Online: https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20230906-fewer-drones-aerial-assets-france-plans-reduction-of-military-presence-in-niger

NORTON, Ben (2023): US/France Threaten Intervention in Resource-rich Niger: Fears of War in West Africa. Geopolitical Economy, 5 August, 2023. Online: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/08/05/us-france-intervention-niger-west-africa/

Orano (2023): Update on the Situation in Niger. 13 September, 2023. Online: https://www.orano.group/en/news/news-group/2023/september/update-on-the-situation-in-niger

PELTIER, Elian – BREEDEN, Aurelien (2023): France to Withdraw Troops From Niger After Military Coup. The New York Times, 24 September, 2023. Online: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/24/world/africa/france-troops-ambassador-niger.html

RAMANI, Samuel (2023): Who Benefits From Niger’s Coup? Foreign Policy, 2 August, 2023. Online: https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/08/02/niger-coup-russia-wagner-china-france-turkey-uae/

RIJKS, Barbara – GABRIËL, Stijn (2020): Migration Trends From, To and Within the Niger 2016 – 2019. UN Migration. Online: https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/iom-niger-four-year-report.pdf

Statista (2023a): The 20 Countries with the Highest Fertility Rates in 2023. Online: https://www.statista.com/statistics/262884/countries-with-the-highest-fertility-rates/

Statista (2023b): Imports of Natural Uranium to the European Union in 2021, by Country of Origin. Online: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1147442/imports-of-uranium-to-eu-by-country/

TARRÓSY István (2023): Kínai–afrikai kapcsolatok, konnektivitás és a BRI kritikai geopolitikai olvasatban. In HORVÁTH Levente (szerk.): Eredmények és kihívások: 10 éves az Övezet és Út Kezdeményezés. Budapest: Eurázsia Központ Neumann János Egyetem, 178–196.

The World Bank (2023): Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) – Niger. Online: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.ADT.LITR.ZS?locations=NE&most_recent_value_desc=false

THOMAS, Richard (2023): Niger Coup Recognition Limits US to Force Protection ISR Flights. Airforce Technology, 2023. október 11. Online: https://www.airforce-technology.com/news/niger-coup-recognition-limits-us-to-force-protection-isr-flights/

TURSE, Nick (2023): At Least Five Members of Niger Junta were Trained by U.S. The Intercept, 2023. augusztus 10. Online: https://theintercept.com/2023/08/10/niger-coup-us-military-training/

U.S. Department of State (2021): Country Reports on Terrorism 2021: Niger. Online: https://www.state.gov/reports/country-reports-on-terrorism-2021/niger/

U.S. Department of State (2023): Military Coup d’Etat in Niger – Press Statement. Online: https://www.state.gov/military-coup-detat-in-niger/

UN Environment Programme [é. n.]: Interactive Country Fiches –Niger. Online: https://dicf.unepgrid.ch/niger

USAID [é. n.]: Niger – Power Africa Fact Sheet. Online: https://www.usaid.gov/powerafrica/niger

VOA (2023): Analysts: Niger President’s Assertive Push for Reforms Led to Coup. Online: https://www.voaafrica.com/a/analysts-niger-president-s-assertive-push-for-reforms-led-to-coup/7213880.html

Worldometer (2023): Niger Population (LIVE). Online: https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/niger-population/

World Population Review (2023a): Niger Population 2023 (Live). Online: https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/niger-population

World Population Review (2023b): Poorest Countries in the World 2023. Online: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/poorest-countries-in-the-world

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.