Anti-terror partner Niger: The paradoxical question of security management

Western states are increasing their military cooperation with Niger. France sees there a strategic place for the fight against terrorism in the Sahel. The army is there too. But the desert state is not an easy partner.

The ex-colonial power France is withdrawing militarily from the crisis state of Mali – because of two military coups, broken election promises by the junta and deals with Russian mercenary troops. Niger is currently the best and also the only possibility for European states in the anti-terrorist fight in the Sahel, says Ulf Laessing, Sahel expert at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Bamako. Nevertheless, he considers the prospect of success to be manageable, because the epicenter of the problem remains Mali.

“Niger suffers from the same problems as Mali: rapidly growing poverty, rapidly growing population, climate change, weak statehood, terrorism,” explains Laessing. Some regions of the country bordering Mali are practically outside of government control. “But there is still a government that is fairly democratically elected and that is more open to cooperation with Western countries.”

More security and better army

This military engagement is viewed differently in Niger. Massaouda Jaharou from Agadez is 30 years old and works in a beauty salon. She has high hopes for stronger military alliances. “Our country is threatened. We have problems with instability almost everywhere. I think it is therefore necessary that these military forces are there. Not only does it lead to more security in certain places, but it can also improve our army.”

This is also a goal of military cooperation. France, the USA and Germany already have military bases here. The Bundeswehr is training special forces in the country and is supposed to help set up a military school.

But many in the country view this foreign military presence with skepticism, even though Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum, for example, had the deployment voted on in parliament.

“I don’t know what the troops are looking for here”

“To be honest, that worries us,” says Ismaiel Moussa, a 38-year-old teacher from Agadez. Despite the international troops, terrorists attacked them. “The foreign troops have technology and drones that they can use to track down the terrorists. But the country doesn’t benefit from that. Because our Nigerien army is being attacked, civilians are being killed. That’s not acceptable. I don’t know what the troops are doing here . Maybe they’re just there to take away our resources.”

Moussa is alluding to Niger’s uranium deposits, for example. Uranium is the fuel used in nuclear reactors. France had a monopoly on uranium mining in its former colony of Niger for almost 40 years. Allegations of radioactive contamination against French companies have also influenced public opinion against the ex-colonial power.

Sahel zone: Hotspot of terrorist attacks

But that’s not all. The Sahel has become a hotspot for terrorist attacks. More than 40 percent of all deadly IS attacks worldwide happen here. Numerous terrorist groups operate in the border region between Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, regularly attacking civilians and security forces and forcing hundreds of thousands of people from the region to flee.

Terror is spreading – also in Niger, although thousands of international soldiers are already operating in the region. In addition, ethnic conflicts and criminal gangs are exacerbating the security situation. The Nigerien security analyst Mahaman Sanoussi from Niger’s capital Niamey says this raises questions among the population.

The question of security management in the Sahel, in Mali as in Burkina, in Niger, seems paradoxical. “Because the more foreign armies are operating in the Sahel, the more the security situation deteriorates.” One has the impression that terrorist organizations adapt to these military alliances and have great resilience. “The citizens ask themselves: how is it possible that men on motorcycles manage to be so powerful, even though the number of foreign armed forces continues to increase?” This leads to citizens wondering whether the forces are effective, Sanoussi said.

No structure to absorb development aid

Niger doesn’t need more military, agrees Maikoul Zodi from the civil society organization Tournons La Page: “We don’t need foreign troops on our soil. We need cooperation, logistics and financial aid so that the problem can be solved by our own soldiers.”

More so-called development aid payments are already planned, says Sahel expert Laessing. But that could also become a problem. “Everyone is in Niger right now and wants to spend their millions on some aid program and partnership. Everyone wants to do something, but there isn’t the structure to absorb all of these programs.” And little is said about each other between the western states. The Italians have just “opened a huge military camp where they probably also train special troops – similar to the Bundeswehr.”

But Laessing also sees successes. There have been fewer attacks than in previous years. This is also due to the political will of Niger’s government. For example, the government plans to double the number of Nigerien armed forces by 2025. “But we still have to remain realistic and have a lot of staying power in Niger.”

Everyday life is a struggle for survival

Niger is also struggling with multiple crises, but is a significantly weaker state than Mali, according to Laessing. For many people, everyday life is a struggle for survival. According to the current UN Human Development Index, Niger ranks last of the 189 listed countries.

Around 40 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. At the same time, the population is growing rapidly, with women giving birth to an average of seven children. Between 2002 and 2020, the population doubled from 12 million to 24 million. The state has great problems providing its population with sufficient supplies – with work, medical care and, above all, food. And that alone cannot be solved by military alliances.