Niger
Republic of Niger
Population
26.5M
GDP
$16.6B
Capital
Niamey
Government
Military junta (transitional)
At a Glance
Human Development
0.4
HDI (0-1)
Democracy
3.2
EIU (0-10)
Press Freedom
—
RSF score
Corruption
—
TI CPI (0-100)
Innovation
—
GII score
Happiness
—
WHR (0-10)
Niger consistently ranks among the least developed countries in the world by the Human Development Index, yet it holds strategic importance as a major uranium producer -- France's nuclear energy program historically depended on Nigerien uranium. A military coup in July 2023 overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, the Sahel's last elected leader allied with Western powers.
The junta expelled French and American military forces from their bases, ended security cooperation agreements, and joined the Alliance of Sahel States with Mali and Burkina Faso. ECOWAS threatened military intervention but ultimately backed down. Niger has the world's highest fertility rate, with a population projected to triple by mid-century.
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As Niger, emphasize sovereignty, resource sovereignty, and the right to choose your security partners. Frame the coup as a response to failed Western security partnerships that left Niger insecure despite hosting French and American military bases.
Ally closely with Mali and Burkina Faso in the Alliance of Sahel States. Build relationships with Russia, China, and Turkey. Push for resource justice -- argue that Niger's uranium enriches foreign corporations while its people remain among the world's poorest. On climate, highlight desertification and food insecurity in the Sahel as consequences of global emissions. Oppose ECOWAS sanctions and external conditionality.
Foreign Policy
Niger's post-coup foreign policy mirrors the broader Sahelian pivot. The junta has severed the French and American military partnerships that had made Niger a hub for Western counterterrorism operations in the Sahel. It has turned toward Russia for military support and joined the Alliance of Sahel States.
Niger's uranium and oil resources give it some economic leverage despite extreme poverty. The junta has sought to renegotiate resource extraction contracts to retain more revenue domestically.