Nigeria begins talks with Niger Republic to mend strained ties

Estranged West African neighbours, Nigeria and Niger Republic, have begun discussions to repair the strained relationship between them.

Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, disclosed this following his trip to Niamey, Niger's capital on Thursday, April 17, 2025.

The Minister was received by his Nigerien counterpart, Bakary Sangaré, according to a statement on the former's X handle on Thursday.

The move comes as ties between the two nations have strained after a series of events in the last couple of years.

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“Rebuilding trust and fostering regional stability remain central to Nigeria’s diplomatic efforts,” Tuggar stated.

“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.”

The Minister added that the “engagements also addressed pressing shared concerns, including migration management, the fight against desertification, and the revitalisation of the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission (NNJC).”

He maintained that Nigeria and Niger remain united in their commitment to advancing regional peace and development.

Nigeria and Niger tension

Relations between the two West African countries broke down following the the July 2023 coup in Niger.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), under the chairmanship of President Bola Tinubu, had imposed stringent sanctions on Niger to force the restoration of constitutional order in the Sahel nation.

The bloc also threatened the Niger junta with a military intervention if ousted President Mohamed Bazoum isn't restored within a stipulated period, though the threat was never followed through.

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The strong reaction placed a significant strain on diplomatic relations between Abuja and Niamey, leading to border closures and the suspension of some cooperative efforts.

Subsequently, Niger, alongside junta-led Sahelian neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso, pulled out of ECOWAS and formed a breakaway faction dubbed Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

Last month, AES imposed a 0.5% import duty on goods from member nations of its former bloc, escalating strained relations.