Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has undertaken a working visit to Niamey, the capital of Niger Republic, amid strained relations between the two West African nations. Tuggar was received by his Nigerien counterpart, Bakary Sangaré, as stated in a Thursday post on his X handle.
According to him, Nigeria’s diplomatic efforts continue to be focused on restoring confidence and promoting regional stability. “I led a delegation to the Republic of Niger to renew bilateral ties and strengthen cooperation in key areas such as security, trade, and energy.” According to him, the discussions also covered common issues including managing migration, combating desertification, and reviving the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission (NNJC).
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The visit follows a period of increased tensions in the wake of the Niger coup in July 2023. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), led by President Bola Tinubu, threatened military involvement, placed harsh penalties on Niger, and pushed for the restoration of constitutional order.
This strong reaction led to a cooling of diplomatic ties between Abuja and Niamey, with border closures and the suspension of some cooperative efforts.
Last month, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a breakaway faction of ECOWAS comprising junta-led Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, imposed a 0.5 percent import duty on goods from member nations of its former bloc, further escalating strained relations.
Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso Break From ECOWAS
As of January 20, 2025, ECOWAS formally recognized the withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, following over a year of diplomatic tensions. Despite the withdrawal, ECOWAS has urged its remaining 12 members to continue recognizing the national passports of the departing nations and to maintain trade relations until further notice, in the spirit of “regional solidarity and interest of the people.” Relations between the trio and ECOWAS soured after the Niger coup, leading to accusations from the departing nations that ECOWAS failed to safeguard member states and aligned too closely with foreign powers. In response, they formed the Alliance of Sahel States and strengthened alliances with Russia, Turkey, and Iran to address security threats.
Source: Channels TV
