Foreign relations of Niger

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Not to be confused with Foreign relations of Nigeria.
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Niger pursues a moderate foreign policy and maintains friendly relations with both East and West.[1] It is a member state of the United Nations. Niger maintains a special relationship with France and enjoys close relations with its West African neighbours.

Multilateral relations[]

US Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meet with Niger Ambassador to the United Nations Abdou Abarry

It is a charter member of the Organization of African Unity and the West African Monetary Union and also belongs to the Niger Basin Authority and the Lake Chad Basin Commission, the Economic Community of West African States, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Niger belongs to the United Nations and its main specialized agencies and in 1980-81 served on the UN Security Council. The first president of Niger, Hamani Diori, maintained close relations with the west and became internationally prominent in his diplomatic work, seeking to broker resolutions to conflicts in Africa and beyond. He was particularly prominent in his involvement as a negotiator during the Nigerian Civil War.[2]

Niger maintains a permanent purpose to the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, at 417 East 50th Street. In 2009, its Ambassador to the United Nations was Ibrahim A. Abani.[3]

Status of diplomatic bilateral relations[]

Have diplomatic relations with Niger[]

  1.  Algeria
  2.  Albania
  3.  Argentina
  4.  Angola
  5.  Armenia
  6.  Austria
  7.  Australia
  8.  Azerbaijan
  9.  Bangladesh
  10.  Bahrain
  11.  Barbados
  12.  People's Republic of China
  13.  Chad
  14.  Egypt
  15.  France
  16.  Germany
  17.  Ghana
  18.  Guinea
  19.  Indonesia
  20.  India
  21.  Iran
  22.  Malaysia
  23.  Pakistan
  24.  Saudi Arabia
  25.  Thailand
  26.  United Arab Emirates
  27.  United States
  28.  Vietnam

Unclear (whether they have established diplomatic relations with Niger or not)[]

  1.  Central African Republic
  2.  Guinea-Bissau
  3.  Sierra Leone
  4.  Syria
  5.  Eswatini

No relations[]

  1.  Afghanistan
  2.  Bhutan
  3.  Chile
  4.  Cyprus
  5.  Dominica
  6.  El Salvador
  7.  Laos
  8.  Myanmar

Bilateral relations[]

Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Argentina 23 June 1975 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 June 1975[4]
 Armenia 26 November 2016
  • Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Niger were established on 26 November 2016.[5]
 Australia 7 May 2009 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 May 2009[6]
 Azerbaijan 10 October 1995 On October 10, 1995, the Protocol on the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Niger was signed.[7]
 Bahrain 11 November 1974 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 November 1974[8]
 Bangladesh 17 February 1983 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 February 1983[9]
 Barbados 25 June 1979 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 June 1979[10]
 Belarus 29 March 2012 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 March 2012[11]
 Benin

Despite the occasional recurrence of a border conflict over Lete Island in the Niger River, Benin and Niger, both former French subjects of French West Africa, relations are close. Niger relies on the port at Cotonou, and to a lesser degree Lomé (Togo), and Port Harcourt (Nigeria), as its main route to overseas trade. Niger operates a Nigerien Ports Authority station, as well as customs and tax offices in a section of Cotonou's port, so that imports and exports can be directly transported between Gaya and the port. French Uranium mines in Arlit, which produce Niger's largest exports by value, travel through this port to France or the world market.

 Botswana 21 December 2006 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 December 2006[12]
 Brazil 24 October 1975 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 October 1975[13]
 Canada 27 April 1962 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 April 1962[14]
  • Canada is accredited to Niger from its embassy in Bamako, Mali.[15]
  • Niger is accredited to Canada from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.[16]
 Chad
 China 20 July 1974[17] See China-Niger relations

China established diplomatic relations with Niger on July 20, 1974. On June 19, 1992, the transitional government of Niger declared the reestablishment of the "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan. The Chinese Government thus announced its suspension of diplomatic relations with Niger on July 30 of the same year. On August 19, 1996, China and Niger re-established diplomatic relations.[18]

  • China has an embassy in Niamey.
  • Niger has an embassy in Beijing.
 Colombia 5 October 1988 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 5 October 1988[19]
 Cuba 25 April 1976 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 April 1976[20]
 Dominican Republic 28 September 2018 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 September 2018[21]
 Estonia 12 October 2005 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 October 2005[22]
 Fiji 9 September 2014 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 September 2014[23]
 Finland 28 November 1975 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 November 1975[24]
 France See France-Niger relations

Niger has maintained close ties with France, its former colonial power. Following Niger's independence in 1960, France maintained several hundred advisers at all levels of Niger's government and military. In the 1960s, the Military of Niger was drawn entirely from Nigerien former members of the French Colonial Forces: officered by Frenchmen who agreed to take joint French-Nigerien citizenship. In 1960 there were only ten African officers in the Nigerien army, all of low rank. President Diori signed legislation to end the employment of expatriate military officers in 1965, some continued to serve until the 1974 coup, when all French military presence was evacuated.[25] As well, the French had maintained until 1974 around 1,000 troops of the 4th Régiment Interarmes d'Outre-Mer [26] (Troupes de Marine) with bases at Niamey, Zinder, Bilma and Agadez. In 1979 a smaller French force was again based permanently in Niger.[27]

Franco-Nigerien relations continue to be close, with France as Niger's top export partner (in value), and the French government being almost entirely dependent upon Niger for the Uranium which fuels its extensive Nuclear Power system, mined in the northern town of Arlit.[28]

  • France has an embassy in Niamey.
  • Niger has an embassy in Paris.
 Georgia 30 May 2012 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 May 2012[29]
 Guatemala 13 November 2007 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 November 2007[30]
 Guyana 25 June 1979

Both countries established diplomatic relations on June 25, 1979.[31]

 Haiti 17 December 1981 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 December 1981[32]
 India See India–Niger relations
 Indonesia 21 September 2011 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 September 2011[36]
 Italy

In December 2017, Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni announced that 470 Italian soldiers would be deployed to Niger in an effort to mitigate the European migrant crisis.[37]

 Jamaica 25 June 1979 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 June 1979[38]
 Kazakhstan 21 September 2017 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 September 2017[39]
 Kosovo 15 August 2011

Niger officially recognised the Republic of Kosovo on 15 August 2011.[40] Kosovo and Niger established diplomatic relations on 25 January 2013.[41]

 Laos 8 December 2006 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 December 2006[42]
 Latvia 17 April 2012 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 April 2012[43]
 Lebanon 11 March 1962 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 March 1962, when first Lebanese Ambassador to Niger presented his creentials to President Hamani Diori[44]
 Lithuania 30 May 2014 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 May 2014[45]
 Mali

Niger has close relations with its neighbour Mali, with large scale trade links and sizable population movement between the two nations. Both were subject states in French West Africa. Niger and Mali have fought related Tuareg insurgencies in their respective northern territories in the 1990s and mid-2000s.

The road border entering Niger from Benin at Gaya. Niger relies on its neighbors, especially Benin and Nigeria for seaports which provide access to world markets.
 Malta 11 December 2008 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 December 2008[46]
 Mauritius 26 March 2018 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 March 2018[47]
 Mexico 6 November 1975 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 November 1975[48]
  • Mexico is accredited to Niger from its embassy in Abuja, Nigeria.[49]
  • Niger is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.[16]
 Mongolia 25 March 2015 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 March 2015[50]
 Montenegro 12 September 2014 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 September 2014[51]
   Nepal 20 September 2017 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 September 2017[52]
 Nicaragua 8 August 2019 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 August 2019[53]
 Nigeria See Niger–Nigeria relations

Nigeria maintains close relations with the Republic of Niger, in part because both nations share a large Hausa minority on each side of their 1,500 km (930 mi) border. Hausa language and cultural ties are strong, but there is little interest in a pan-Hausa state.[54] The two nations formed the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission for Cooperation (NNJC), established in March, 1971 with its Permanent Secretariat in Niamey, Niger.[55]

  • Niger has an embassy in Abuja.
  • Nigeria has an embassy in Niamey.
 North Macedonia 15 November 2000 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 November 2000[56]
 Norway 24 January 1964 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 January 1964[57]
 Pakistan

Pakistan supports Niger's territorial and sovereign integrity and rejects Libya's advances as aggression.

 Philippines 16 October 1981 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 October 1981[58]
 Portugal 10 July 1975 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 July 1975[59]
 Romania 20 June 1969 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 June 1969[60]
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 31 May 2007 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 May 2007[61]
 Serbia 17 March 1972 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 March 1972[62]
 Slovenia 22 June 2006 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 June 2006[63]
 South Africa 9 May 1994 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 May 1994[64]
 South Korea 27 July 1961

Establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and Niger began on July 27, 1961.[65]

 Spain May 1965[66] See Niger–Spain relations
  • Niger is accredited to Spain from its embassy in Paris, France.
  • Spain has an embassy in Niamey.[67]
 Thailand 30 July 1982 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 July 1982[68]
 Turkey 30 March 1967[69] See Niger–Turkey relations
 Turkmenistan 22 June 2021 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 June 2021[71]
 Ukraine 1 October 1999 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 October 1999[72]
 United States 3 August 1960[73] See Niger-United States relations

A conservative foreign policy has meant that under Niger's first president and—following military coup—the 1974–1991 military government, Niger maintained good relations with the United States, Israel, and NATO governments in general. During the Cold War, Niger maintained a non-confrontational attitude to the Soviet Union and its allies.[74]

 Uruguay 6 March 2013 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 March 2013[75]
 Venezuela 8 October 2005 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 October 2005[76]
 Vietnam 7 March 1975 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 March 1975[77]
 Yemen 5 January 1985 Niger and Yemen Arab Republic established diplomatic relations on 5 January 1985[78]

Other[]

Niger's office in Accra, Ghana

Niger has only 24 permanent embassies abroad, although more have permanent representation in Niamey, either through national embassies or other representatives. The United Kingdom, for instance, operates its permanent office for relations to Niger from Accra, Ghana, while Niger's permanent representative resides at the Nigerien Embassy in Paris.

Many other small or distant nations have no formal diplomatic relations with Niamey except through their respective consulates at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Australia, for instance, only signed the instruments of formal diplomatic relations with Niamey on 7 May 2009, through their respective consular officials at the UN.[3]

Border disputes[]

Libya has in the past claimed a strip along their border of about 19,400 km² in northern Niger. There have been several decades of unresolved discussions regarding the delimitation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad between Niger, Nigeria, Chad, and Cameroon. The lack of firm borders, as well as the receding of the lake in the 20th century led to border incidents between Cameroon and Chad in the past. An agreement has been completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria.

Niger has an ongoing conflict with Benin over Lété Island, an island in the River Niger approx. 16 kilometres long and 4 kilometres wide, located around 40 kilometers from the town of Gao, Niger. Together with other smaller islands in the River Niger, it was the main object of a territorial dispute between Niger and Benin, which had begun when the two entities were still under French rule. The island, and seasonally flooded land around it is valuable to semi-nomadic Puel cattle herders as a dry season pasturage. The two countries had almost gone to war over their border in 1963 but finally chose to settle by peaceful means. In the early 90s a joint delimitation commission was tasked with solving the issue but could not reach an agreement. In 2001 the two parties chose to have the International Court of Justice (ICJ) decide on the matter once and for all. In 2005, the ICJ ruled in Niger's favour.[79]

Niger has ongoing processes delimiting sections of their borders with Burkina Faso and Mali, disputes which date back to the colonial period. These entities, along with Benin and other nations which do not border Niger, were semi independent elements of French West Africa. Within the colonial administration, borders were frequently changed, with Niger colony once possessing large portions of what is now Burkina Faso and Mali, as well as much of northern Chad, later associated with French Equatorial Africa. Disputes between these post-independence nations have been minor and peaceful.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Niger (12/01)". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  2. ^ Samuel Decalo. Historical Dictionary of Niger (3rd ed.). Scarecrow Press, Boston & Folkestone, (1997) ISBN 0-8108-3136-8
  3. ^ a b "Diplomatie/le Niger et la République d'Australie établissent des relations diplomatiques". . 12 May 2009
  4. ^ "Biblioteca Digital de Tratados Argentina".
  5. ^ "Bilateral Relations (MFA Republic of Armenia)".
  6. ^ "Diplomatic Relations between Australia and Niger as of 7 May 2009 (United Nations Digital Library)".
  7. ^ "Bilateral diplomatic relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of the Niger (MFA of Azerbaijan)".
  8. ^ "BILATERAL RELATIONS (MFA Bahrain)".
  9. ^ Near East/South Asia Report, Issue 2730. Foreign Broadcast Information Service, 1983. p. 62.
  10. ^ "LIST OF COUNTRIES WITH WHICH BARBADOS HAS ESTABLISHED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS".
  11. ^ "Belarus and Niger esbablish diplomatic relations (MFA Republic of Belarus)".
  12. ^ "Diplomatic Relations Between Niger and Botswana as of 21 Dec. 2006 (United Nations Digital Library)".
  13. ^ "Ministério das Relações Exteriores Brasil".
  14. ^ "A Guide to Canadian Diplomatic Relations 1925-2019".
  15. ^ Canada, Global Affairs (August 27, 2019). "Canada and Mali". GAC.
  16. ^ a b "Embassy of Niger to the United States of America – Embassy of Niger to the United States of America".
  17. ^ "Political Relations Peple's Republic of China and Republic of Niger".
  18. ^ "Niger -- china.org.cn". www.china.org.cn.
  19. ^ "Diplomatic Relations Between Colombia and Niger as of 5 Oct. 1988 (United Nations Digital Library)".
  20. ^ "Cuba y Níger celebran hoy el 45 aniversario del establecimiento de relaciones diplomáticas".
  21. ^ "Canciller Miguel Vargas junto a su par nigerino, Kalla Ankourao, firman Relaciones Diplomáticas entre República Dominicana y Niger".
  22. ^ "Diplomaatiliste suhete (taas)kehtestamise kronoloogia (MFA Estonia) (in Estonian)".
  23. ^ "Diplomatic Relations between Fiji and Niger as of 9 Sept. 2014 (United Nations Digital Library)".
  24. ^ "Finland and Niger (Finland Abroad is a website)".
  25. ^ for the section History of the FAN prior to 1974, see Samuel Decalo. Historical Dictionary of Niger (2nd ed.). Scarecrow Press, London and New Jersey (1979). ISBN 0-8108-1229-0 pp.33?35.
  26. ^ 4e Régiment Interarmes d'Outre-Mer: the 4th RIAOM was dissolved after leaving Niger.
  27. ^ Samuel Decalo. Coups and Army Rule in Africa, Yale University Press (1990). ISBN 0-300-04045-8
  28. ^ Decalo (1997).
  29. ^ "Diplomatic Relations between Georgia and Niger as of 30 May 2012 (United Nations Digital Library)".
  30. ^ "Diplomatic Relations Between Niger and Guatemala as of 13 Nov. 2007 (United Nations Digital Library)".
  31. ^ "Countries with which Guyana has Establishment Diplomatic Relations – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation| Co-operative Republic of Guyana".
  32. ^ Le Mois en Afrique, Issues 180-185. Le Mois en Afrique., 1981. p. 153.
  33. ^ "e-Visa Inde - Formulaire 2021 - Document officiel".