As Niger marks its Independence Day, military rulers under General Abdourahamane Tiani have made little progress in curbing Islamist insurgencies despite cutting ties with Western allies and aligning with new international partners, according to analyst.

Speaking on Rise and Shine, Professor Thomas Mandrup from Stellenbosch University and the Royal Danish Defence College noted that while the military junta has claimed to strengthen national sovereignty by expelling French and American forces in favour of partnerships with Russia, Turkey, and China, the security reality for ordinary Nigeriens has deteriorated.

Mandrup highlighted that rival militant groups, specifically the al-Qaeda-linked JNIM and the Islamic State, are expanding their reach across the Lake Chad basin and western regions, increasing kidnappings and protection extortion while competing for territorial control. He added that insurgents have grown increasingly bold, launching major attacks on key military infrastructure near the capital, Niamey, including high-profile strikes near the international airport in January and June.

While the newly formed Alliance of Sahel States, comprising Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, has pledged mutual military support, Mandrup emphasised that practical joint operational capability and intelligence sharing have yet to materialise beyond political rhetoric. Furthermore, he observed that Russia’s presence in Niger, consisting of a few hundred troops focused on regime protection, has failed to match the critical intelligence, surveillance, and logistical capabilities previously supplied by Western partners.

–ChannelAfrica–