Niger’s military government has made a bold move by banning a well-known French aid organization, the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (Acted), from working in the country. This decision, announced by Niger’s Interior Ministry on Tuesday, comes as relations with France—its former colonial ruler—continue to deteriorate.
Acted, a Paris-based NGO, has been active in Niger since 2010. The organization has been helping locals, especially displaced communities, in a nation grappling with poverty and violence from armed groups. According to Acted’s website, over a million people in Niger have benefited from their projects during their 14 years of operation.
But on Tuesday, Niger’s government abruptly revoked Acted’s license. The ministry’s statement was clear: “The license to operate accorded to the NGO named Acted… has been withdrawn from Tuesday.” Another local humanitarian group, Action Pour le Bien-Etre (APBE), also had its license revoked. No explanation for the decision was provided.
A Bigger Picture of Rising Tensions
This move is the latest in a series of actions against French organizations in Niger since the country’s military leaders took power after a coup in 2023. In recent months, the government has expelled French troops, accused Paris of meddling in Niger’s affairs, and even barred a French TV channel from airing programs it deemed harmful to national values.
France’s influence in Niger, once seen as a stabilizing force, is now being rejected by the country’s new leadership. The government argues that many foreign organizations, including aid groups, are advancing agendas that conflict with Niger’s sovereignty and security.
In June, Niger revoked the operating license of Orano, a French state-owned company running one of the world’s largest uranium mines in the country. The government has also cut ties with France’s military presence, following the example of neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali. These nations have shifted their security partnerships to Russia, praising Moscow as a more reliable ally.
Pro-Government Voices Support the Ban
The decision to expel Acted has received strong support from Nigerien nationalists. Ibrahim Bana, a pro-government figure, expressed his approval on social media. He called the ban a step toward protecting Niger’s sovereignty, claiming that many foreign organizations are “not mere enterprises serving the Nigerien people” but instead represent foreign interests that are “hostile to our country.”
What’s Next for Niger?
The ban on Acted and the broader rejection of French influence mark a turning point for Niger. The country’s military rulers are determined to reshape its relationships with foreign powers, pushing back against what they see as decades of exploitation and interference.
But this decision raises questions. Without organizations like Acted, how will Niger meet the needs of its most vulnerable citizens? And as it distances itself from Western allies, will its new partnerships, particularly with Russia, prove beneficial in the long run?
For now, Niger seems committed to its path of asserting independence, even as it navigates the risks of such drastic changes.
