Foreign relations of Niger

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Foreign relations of Niger

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

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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.[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]

Diplomatic relations

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List of countries which Niger maintains diplomatic relations with:

More information #, Country ...
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# Country Date
1  Germany 2 August 1960[4]
2  United Kingdom 3 August 1960[5]
3  United States 3 August 1960[6]
4  France 4 August 1960[7]
5  Japan 16 March 1961[8]
6   Switzerland 26 May 1961[9]
7  Nigeria 8 June 1961[10]
8  South Korea 27 July 1961[11]
9  Ghana 24 August 1961[12]
10  Belgium 22 September 1961[13]
11  Italy 23 September 1961[14]
 Israel (suspended) 9 November 1961[15]
12  Netherlands 20 December 1961[16]
13  Liberia 1961[17]
14  Sierra Leone 1961[17]
15  Lebanon 11 March 1962[18]
16  Guinea 20 March 1962[19]
17  Canada 27 April 1962[20]
18  Mali 1 August 1962[21]
19  Togo 26 October 1962[22]
20  Luxembourg 18 December 1962[23]
21  Egypt 7 July 1963[24]
22  Morocco 1 October 1963[25]
23  Sudan 1963[26]
24  Norway 24 January 1964[27]
25  Sweden 1964[28]
26  Austria 30 January 1965[29]
27  Algeria 12 March 1965[30]
28  Denmark 25 May 1965[31]
29  Spain May 1965[32]
30  Ethiopia 6 October 1965[33]
31  Pakistan 15 October 1965[34]
32  Libya 17 November 1965[35]
33  Peru November 1965[36]
34  Syria 13 September 1966[37]
35  Saudi Arabia 20 November 1966[38]
36  Kuwait 22 November 1966[38]
37  Turkey 30 March 1967[39]
38  Gabon 22 April 1968[40]
39  Tunisia 24 April 1968[41]
40  Romania 20 June 1969[42]
41  Mauritania 4 December 1969[43]
42  Democratic Republic of the Congo 1969[44]
43  Iceland 26 January 1970[45]
 Sovereign Military Order of Malta 9 January 1971[46]
44  Poland 30 June 1971[47]
 Holy See 20 July 1971[48]
45  Russia 17 February 1972[49]
46  Serbia 17 March 1972[50]
47  Hungary 3 February 1973[51]
48  Senegal 2 March 1973[52]
49  Bulgaria 5 March 1973[53]
50  Ivory Coast 30 October 1973[54]
51  Cameroon 13 February 1974[55]
52  China 20 July 1974[56]
53  North Korea 6 September 1974[57]
54  Bahrain 11 November 1974[58]
55  Vietnam 7 March 1975[59]
56  Uganda 8 April 1975[60]
57  Iran 11 June 1975[61]
58  Argentina 23 June 1975[62]
59  United Arab Emirates 9 July 1975[63]
60  Portugal 10 July 1975[64]
61  Brazil 24 October 1975[65]
62  Mexico 6 November 1975[66]
63  Finland 28 November 1975[67]
64  Czech Republic 22 December 1975[68]
65  Rwanda 1975[69]
66  Cuba 25 April 1976[70]
67  India 18 July 1977[71]
68  Barbados 25 June 1979[72]
69  Guyana 25 June 1979[73]
70  Jamaica 25 June 1979[74]
71  Greece June 1979[75]
72  Trinidad and Tobago 1979[76]
73  Albania 18 June 1980[77]
74  Angola 28 August 1980[78]
75  Oman 3 September 1980[79]
76  Gambia 23 February 1981[80]
77  Central African Republic 9 May 1981[81]
78  Kenya 12 May 1981[81]
79  Burkina Faso 30 June 1981[82]
80  Philippines 16 December 1981[83]
81  Haiti 17 December 1981[84]
82  Benin 14 May 1982[85]
83  Thailand 30 July 1982[83]
84  Qatar 14 September 1982[86]
85  Bangladesh 17 February 1983[87]
86  Yemen 4 January 1985[88]
87  Zimbabwe 10 February 1986[89]
88  Colombia 5 October 1988[83]
 State of Palestine 18 January 1989[90]
89  Brunei 1 May 1990[91]
90  Jordan 25 July 1990[92]
91  South Africa 9 May 1994[93]
92  Slovakia 26 April 1995[94]
93  Azerbaijan 10 October 1995[95]
94  Bosnia and Herzegovina 18 October 1995[96]
95  Singapore 1 June 1998[97]
 Ukraine (suspended)[98] 1 October 1999[83]
96  North Macedonia 15 November 2000[83]
97  Cyprus 17 September 2002[99]
98  Venezuela 8 October 2005[100]
99  Estonia 12 October 2005[101]
100  Slovenia 22 June 2006[83]
101  Laos 8 December 2006[83]
102  Botswana 21 December 2006[83]
103  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 31 May 2007[83]
104  Guatemala 13 November 2007[83]
105  Malta 11 December 2008[83]
106  Liechtenstein 17 December 2008[102]
107  Djibouti 20 April 2009[103]
108  Australia 7 May 2009[83]
109  Paraguay 2010[104]
110  Indonesia 21 September 2011[105]
111  Belarus 29 March 2012[106]
112  Latvia 17 April 2012[107]
113  Malaysia 24 April 2012[108]
 Georgia 30 May 2012[83]
114  Kosovo 25 January 2013[109]
115  Uruguay 6 March 2013[83]
116  Equatorial Guinea 5 November 2013[110]
117  Namibia 26 March 2014[111]
118  Mozambique 29 March 2014[112]
119  Lithuania 30 May 2014[83]
120  Fiji 9 September 2014[83]
121  Montenegro 12 September 2014[83]
122  Seychelles 18 November 2014[113]
123  Mongolia 25 March 2015[83]
124  Madagascar 13 January 2016[114]
125  Malawi 8 March 2016[115][116]
126  Armenia 26 November 2016[117]
127  Tanzania 23 March 2017[118]
128  Lesotho 17 August 2017[119]
129  Tajikistan 26 August 2017[120]
130    Nepal 20 September 2017[83]
131  Kazakhstan 21 September 2017[83]
132  Mauritius 26 March 2018[83]
133  Dominican Republic 28 September 2018[121]
134  Nicaragua 8 August 2019[83]
135  Monaco 9 October 2019[122]
136  Comoros 21 November 2020[123]
137  Guinea-Bissau 10 February 2021[124]
138  Turkmenistan 22 June 2021[83]
139  Burundi 25 April 2023[125]
140  South Sudan 19 July 2023[126]
141  Eritrea 17 November 2023[127][128]
142  Cambodia Unknown (Before 1984)[129]
143  Cape Verde Unknown
144  Chad Unknown
145  Republic of the Congo Unknown
146  Iraq Unknown
147  Ireland Unknown
148  New Zealand Unknown
149  Zambia Unknown
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Bilateral relations

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More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
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[30]
 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.[78]
 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.[29]
 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.[13]
 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.

 Canada27 April 1962Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 April 1962[20]
  • Canada is accredited to Niger from its embassy in Bamako, Mali.[130]
  • Niger is accredited to Canada from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.[131]
 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.[81]
 Chad
 China20 July 1974See 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.[56]

  • 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[33]
 France4 August 1960 See France–Niger relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 4 August 1960[7]

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.[132] As well, the French had maintained until 1974 around 1,000 troops of the 4th Régiment Interarmes d'Outre-Mer [133] (Troupes de Marine) with bases at Niamey, Zinder, Bilma and Agadez. In 1979 a smaller French force was again based permanently in Niger.[134]

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.[135]

  • 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.[40]
 Germany 2 August 1960 See Germany–Niger relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 August 1960[4]

 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.[12]
 India18 July 1977See India–Niger relations
 Italy23 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.[14]

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.[141]

 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.[81]
 Kosovo25 January 2013

Niger officially recognised the Republic of Kosovo on 15 August 2011.[142] Kosovo and Niger established diplomatic relations on 25 January 2013.[109]

 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[18]
 Libya17 November 1965See Libya–Niger relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 November 1965.[35]

 Mali1 August 1962

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 August 1962[21]

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.

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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.
 Mexico6 November 1975Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 November 1975[66]
  • Mexico is accredited to Niger from its embassy in Abuja, Nigeria.[143]
  • Niger is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.[131]
 Nigeria8 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[10]

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.[144] The two nations formed the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission for Cooperation (NNJC), established in March, 1971 with its Permanent Secretariat in Niamey, Niger.[145]

  • Niger has an embassy in Abuja.
  • Nigeria has an embassy in Niamey.
 Pakistan15 October 1965

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 October 1965[34]

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

 SpainMay 1965See Niger–Spain relations
  • Niger is accredited to Spain from its embassy in Paris, France.
  • Spain has an embassy in Niamey.
 Turkey30 March 1967See Niger–Turkey relations
 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[60]
 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.[5]
 United States3 August 1960 See Niger–United States relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 August 1960[6]

A conservative foreign policy has meant that under Niger's first president and—following military coup—the 19741991 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.[147]

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Other

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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

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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.[148]

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

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