Niger will look to Western partners to boost security

Significance

This represents a key success for Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum’s policy of leveraging strong relations with Western partners as a core element in his security strategy to counter jihadist groups active in western and south-eastern Niger.

Impacts

• A breakdown of Mali’s Algiers Accord peace deal could worsen the security situation in northern Niger.
• The coup risk may depend on the extent to which Bazoum appears able to contain the spread of insecurity.
• Bazoum may attempt to mobilise regional diplomacy to improve relations with Burkina Faso and Mali.
• A large influx of new Western funds and equipment could fuel more corruption.