Foreign relations of Niger

Template:Sidebar with collapsible lists Niger pursues a moderate foreign policy and maintains friendly relations with both East and West. 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

File:Secretary Pompeo and USUN Ambassador Craft Meet with Niger Ambassador to the United Nations Abdou Abarry and Upcoming President of the UN Security Council (50249137863).jpg

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. Also, it 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. His involvement as a negotiator was particularly prominent during the Nigerian Civil War.

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.

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Niger maintains diplomatic relations with:

File:Diplomatic relations of Niger.svg
#	Country	Date
1	Germany	Template:Dts
2	United Kingdom	Template:Dts
3	United States	Template:Dts
4	France	Template:Dts
5	Japan	Template:Dts
6	Switzerland	Template:Dts
7	Nigeria	Template:Dts
8	South Korea	Template:Dts
9	Ghana	Template:Dts
10	Belgium	Template:Dts
11	Italy	Template:Dts
—	Israel (suspended)	Template:Dts
12	Netherlands	Template:Dts
13	Liberia	Template:Dts
14	Sierra Leone	Template:Dts
15	Lebanon	Template:Dts
16	Guinea	Template:Dts
17	Canada	Template:Dts
18	Mali	Template:Dts
19	Togo	Template:Dts
20	Luxembourg	Template:Dts
21	Egypt	Template:Dts
22	Morocco	Template:Dts
23	Sudan	Template:Dts
24	Norway	Template:Dts
25	Austria	Template:Dts
26	Algeria	Template:Dts
27	Denmark	Template:Dts
28	Sweden	Template:Dts
29	Spain	Template:Dts
30	Ethiopia	Template:Dts
31	Pakistan	Template:Dts
32	Libya	Template:Dts
33	Peru	Template:Dts
34	Syria	Template:Dts
35	Saudi Arabia	Template:Dts
36	Kuwait	Template:Dts
37	Turkey	Template:Dts
38	Gabon	Template:Dts
39	Tunisia	Template:Dts
40	Romania	Template:Dts
41	Mauritania	Template:Dts
42	Democratic Republic of the Congo	Template:Dts
43	Iceland	Template:Dts
—	Sovereign Military Order of Malta	Template:Dts
44	Poland	Template:Dts
—	Holy See	Template:Dts
45	Russia	Template:Dts
46	Serbia	Template:Dts
47	Hungary	Template:Dts
48	Senegal	Template:Dts
49	Bulgaria	Template:Dts
50	Ivory Coast	Template:Dts
51	Cameroon	Template:Dts
52	China	Template:Dts
53	North Korea	Template:Dts
54	Bahrain	Template:Dts
55	Vietnam	Template:Dts
56	Uganda	Template:Dts
57	Iran	Template:Dts
58	Argentina	Template:Dts
59	United Arab Emirates	Template:Dts
60	Portugal	Template:Dts
61	Brazil	Template:Dts
62	Mexico	Template:Dts
63	Finland	Template:Dts
64	Czech Republic	Template:Dts
65	Rwanda	Template:Dts
66	Cuba	Template:Dts
67	India	Template:Dts
68	Barbados	Template:Dts
69	Guyana	Template:Dts
70	Jamaica	Template:Dts
71	Greece	Template:Dts
72	Trinidad and Tobago	Template:Dts
73	Albania	Template:Dts
74	Angola	Template:Dts
75	Oman	Template:Dts
76	Gambia	Template:Dts
77	Central African Republic	Template:Dts
78	Kenya	Template:Dts
79	Burkina Faso	Template:Dts
80	Philippines	Template:Dts
81	Haiti	Template:Dts
82	Benin	Template:Dts
83	Thailand	Template:Dts
84	Qatar	Template:Dts
85	Bangladesh	Template:Dts
86	Yemen	Template:Dts
87	Zimbabwe	Template:Dts
88	Colombia	Template:Dts
—	Template:Country data State of Palestine	Template:Dts
89	Brunei
90	Jordan	Template:Dts
91	South Africa	Template:Dts
92	Slovakia	Template:Dts
93	Azerbaijan	Template:Dts
94	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Template:Dts
95	Singapore	Template:Dts
—	Ukraine (suspended)	Template:Dts
96	Template:Country data North Macedonia	Template:Dts
97	Cyprus	Template:Dts
98	Venezuela	Template:Dts
99	Estonia	Template:Dts
100	Slovenia	Template:Dts
101	Laos	Template:Dts
102	Botswana	Template:Dts
103	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Template:Dts
104	Guatemala	Template:Dts
105	Ireland	Before April 2008
106	Malta	Template:Dts
107	Liechtenstein	Template:Dts
108	Djibouti	Template:Dts
109	Australia	Template:Dts
110	Paraguay	Template:Dts
111	Indonesia	Template:Dts
112	Belarus	Template:Dts
113	Latvia	Template:Dts
114	Malaysia	Template:Dts
115	Template:Country data Georgia	Template:Dts
—	Kosovo	Template:Dts
116	Uruguay	Template:Dts
117	Equatorial Guinea	Template:Dts
118	Namibia	Template:Dts
119	Mozambique	Template:Dts
120	Lithuania	Template:Dts
121	Fiji	Template:Dts
122	Montenegro	Template:Dts
123	Seychelles	Template:Dts
124	Mongolia	Template:Dts
125	Madagascar	Template:Dts
126	Malawi	Template:Dts
127	Armenia	Template:Dts
128	Tanzania	Template:Dts
129	Lesotho	Template:Dts
130	Tajikistan	Template:Dts
131	Nepal	Template:Dts
132	Kazakhstan	Template:Dts
133	Mauritius	Template:Dts
134	Dominican Republic	Template:Dts
135	Nicaragua	Template:Dts
136	Monaco	Template:Dts
137	Comoros	Template:Dts
138	Guinea-Bissau
139	Turkmenistan	Template:Dts
140	Andorra	Template:Dts
141	Burundi	Template:Dts
142	South Sudan	Template:Dts
143	Eritrea	Template:Dts
144	Cambodia	Unknown (Before 1984)
145	Chad	Unknown
146	Republic of the Congo	Unknown
147	Iraq	Unknown
148	New Zealand	Unknown
149	Zambia	Unknown

Bilateral relations

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Algeria	12 March 1965	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 March 1965 when the government of Niger has agreed to the nomination of M. Ali Abdellaoui as Algeria's Ambassador in Niamey with residence in Abidjan
Angola	28 August 1980	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 August 1980 when Ambassador of Niger to Angola Mr. Joseph Diatta presented his letters of credentials to President M. Jose Eduardo Dos Santos.
Austria	30 January 1965	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 January 1965 when has been appointed Ambassador of Niger to Austria (resident in Bonn) Mr. Abdou Sidikou.
Belgium	22 September 1961	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 September 1961 when first Ambassador of Belgium to Niger, M.Gérard Walravens presented his credentials to President Diori Hamani.
Benin		Despite the occasional recurrence of a border conflict over Lété 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.
Canada	27 April 1962	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 April 1962 Canada is accredited to Niger from its embassy in Bamako, Mali. Niger is accredited to Canada from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.
Central African Republic	9 May 1981	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 May 1981 when first Ambassador of Niger to Central African Republic with residence in Yaounde Mr. Moustapha Tahi, presented his credentials to President David Dacko.
Chad		Chad has an embassy in Niamey. Niger has an embassy in N'Djamena.
China	20 July 1974	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. China has an embassy in Niamey. Niger has an embassy in Beijing.
Ethiopia	6 October 1965	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 October 1965 when first Ambassador of Ethiopia to Niger (resident in Lagos) Mr. Davit Abdou presented his credentials
France	4 August 1960	See France–Niger relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 4 August 1960 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. As well, the French had maintained until 1974 around 1,000 troops of the 4th Régiment Interarmes d'Outre-Mer (Troupes de Marine) with bases at Niamey, Zinder, Bilma and Agadez. In 1979 a smaller French force was again based permanently in Niger. 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. France has an embassy in Niamey. Niger has an embassy in Paris.
Gabon	22 April 1968	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 April 1968 when Gabon's first Ambassador to Niger, M. Moktar Abdoulaye Mbingt, presented his credentials to President Diori.
	2 August 1960	See Germany–Niger relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 August 1960 Germany has an embassy in Niamey. Niger has an embassy in Berlin.
Ghana	24 August 1961	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 August 1961 when has been appointed first Ambassador of Niger to Ghana M. Tanimoune Ary.
India	18 July 1977	See India–Niger relations India has an embassy in Niamey. Niger maintains an embassy in New Delhi.
Italy	23 September 1961	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 September 1961 when first Ambassador of Italy to Niger M. Renzo Luigi Romanelli, presented his credentials to President of Niger Diori Hamani. 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.
Kenya	12 May 1981	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 May 1981 when Ambassador of Niger to Kenya presented his credentials to President Daniel Arap Moi.
Kosovo	25 January 2013	Niger officially recognised the Republic of Kosovo on 15 August 2011. Kosovo and Niger established diplomatic relations on 25 January 2013.
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
Libya	17 November 1965	See Libya–Niger relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 November 1965. Libya has an embassy in Niamey. Niger has an embassy in Tripoli.
Mali	1 August 1962	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 August 1962 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. File:FrontiereBeninNiger.jpg 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.
Mexico	6 November 1975	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 November 1975 Mexico is accredited to Niger from its embassy in Abuja, Nigeria. Niger is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.
Nigeria	8 June 1961	See Niger–Nigeria relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 June 1961 when M. Elhad Camatte Hammodon Maiga, ambassador of Niger to Nigeria presented his letters of credentials to the Governor General Azikiwe Nigeria maintains close relations with the Republic of Niger, in part because both nations share a large Hausa minority on each side of their border. Hausa language and cultural ties are strong, but there is little interest in a pan-Hausa state. The two nations formed the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission for Cooperation (NNJC), established in March, 1971 with its Permanent Secretariat in Niamey, Niger. Niger has an embassy in Abuja. Nigeria has an embassy in Niamey.
Pakistan	15 October 1965	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 October 1965 Pakistan supports Niger's territorial and sovereign integrity and rejects Libya's advances as aggression.
		See Niger–Russia relations Niger has an embassy in Mosow. In April 2025, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that Russia would reopen its embassy in Niger.
Spain	May 1965	See Niger–Spain relations Niger is accredited to Spain from its embassy in Paris, France. Spain has an embassy in Niamey.
Turkey	30 March 1967	See Niger–Turkey relations Niger has an embassy in Ankara. Turkey has an embassy in Niamey. Trade volume between the two countries was US$72 million in 2019.
Uganda	8 April 1975	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 April 1975 when accredited first Ambassador of Niger to Uganda (resident in Addis Ababa) Mr. Oumarou Garba Youssaufou
United Kingdom	3 August 1960	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 August 1960 when Mr. R. J. Stratton was appointment as Charge d'Affaires ad interim of the United Kingdom to Niger.
United States	3 August 1960	See Niger–United States relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 August 1960 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. Recently after Washington added Niger to the list of 39 countries for which visa issuance was suspended, Niger retaliated by banning the entry of American citizens and announcing that it would stop issuing entry visas to American citizens as of August 28, 2025. Niger has an embassy in Washington, D.C. United States has an embassy in Niamey.

Other

File:Niger Flag in Ghana.jpg

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.

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.

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

• List of diplomatic missions in Niger
• List of diplomatic missions of Niger

References

• Stub created from US State Department Report, 2007.