Niger pursues a moderate foreign policy and maintains friendly relations with both East and West. It is a member state of the United Nations. Niger maintains a special relationship with France and enjoys close relations with its West African neighbours.
Multilateral relations
It is a charter member of the Organization of African Unity and the West African Monetary Union. Also, it belongs to the Niger Basin Authority and the Lake Chad Basin Commission, the Economic Community of West African States, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Niger belongs to the United Nations and its main specialized agencies and, in 1980-81, served on the UN Security Council. The first president of Niger, Hamani Diori, maintained close relations with the West and became internationally prominent in his diplomatic work, seeking to broker resolutions to conflicts in Africa and beyond. His involvement as a negotiator was particularly prominent during the Nigerian Civil War.Samuel Decalo. Historical Dictionary of Niger (3rd ed.). Scarecrow Press, Boston & Folkestone, (1997)
Niger maintains a permanent purpose to the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, at 417 East 50th Street. In 2009, its Ambassador to the United Nations was Ibrahim A. Abani.
Diplomatic relations List of countries which Niger maintains diplomatic relations with: #CountryDate1234567891011— (suspended)12131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142—43—44454647484950515253545556575859606162636465666768697071727374757677787980818283848586878889—90919293949596— (suspended)979899100101102103104105106Before April 2008107108109110111112113114115116—117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149Unknown150Unknown151Unknown152Unknown
Bilateral relations Country Formal Relations BeganNotes12 March 1965Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 March 1965 when the government of Niger has agreed to the nomination of M. Ali Abdellaoui as Algeria's Ambassador in Niamey with residence in Abidjan28 August 1980Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 August 1980 when Ambassador of Niger to Angola Mr. Joseph Diatta presented his letters of credentials to President M. Jose Eduardo Dos Santos.30 January 1965Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 January 1965 when has been appointed Ambassador of Niger to Austria (resident in Bonn) Mr. Abdou Sidikou.22 September 1961Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 September 1961 when first Ambassador of Belgium to Niger, M.Gérard Walravens presented his credentials to President Diori Hamani.Despite the occasional recurrence of a border conflict over Lété Island in the Niger River, Benin and Niger, both former French subjects of French West Africa, relations are close. Niger relies on the port at Cotonou, and to a lesser degree Lomé (Togo), and Port Harcourt (Nigeria), as its main route to overseas trade. Niger operates a Nigerien Ports Authority station, as well as customs and tax offices in a section of Cotonou's port, so that imports and exports can be directly transported between Gaya and the port. French Uranium mines in Arlit, which produce Niger's largest exports by value, travel through this port to France or the world market.27 April 1962Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 April 1962 Canada is accredited to Niger from its embassy in Bamako, Mali. Niger is accredited to Canada from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.9 May 1981Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 May 1981 when first Ambassador of Niger to Central African Republic with residence in Yaounde Mr. Moustapha Tahi, presented his credentials to President David Dacko. Chad has an embassy in Niamey. Niger has an embassy in N'Djamena.20 July 1974See China–Niger relations
China established diplomatic relations with Niger on July 20, 1974. On June 19, 1992, the transitional government of Niger declared the reestablishment of the "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan. The Chinese Government thus announced its suspension of diplomatic relations with Niger on July 30 of the same year. On August 19, 1996, China and Niger re-established diplomatic relations. China has an embassy in Niamey. Niger has an embassy in Beijing.6 October 1965Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 October 1965 when first Ambassador of Ethiopia to Niger (resident in Lagos) Mr. Davit Abdou presented his credentials4 August 1960See France–Niger relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 4 August 1960
Niger has maintained close ties with France, its former colonial power. Following Niger's independence in 1960, France maintained several hundred advisers at all levels of Niger's government and military. In the 1960s, the Military of Niger was drawn entirely from Nigerien former members of the French Colonial Forces: officered by Frenchmen who agreed to take joint French-Nigerien citizenship. In 1960 there were only ten African officers in the Nigerien army, all of low rank. President Diori signed legislation to end the employment of expatriate military officers in 1965, some continued to serve until the 1974 coup, when all French military presence was evacuated.for the section History of the FAN prior to 1974, see Samuel Decalo. Historical Dictionary of Niger (2nd ed.). Scarecrow Press, London and New Jersey (1979). pp.33?35. As well, the French had maintained until 1974 around 1,000 troops of the 4th Régiment Interarmes d'Outre-Mer 4e Régiment Interarmes d'Outre-Mer : the 4th RIAOM was dissolved after leaving Niger. (Troupes de Marine) with bases at Niamey, Zinder, Bilma and Agadez. In 1979 a smaller French force was again based permanently in Niger.Samuel Decalo. Coups and Army Rule in Africa, Yale University Press (1990).
Franco-Nigerien relations continue to be close, with France as Niger's top export partner (in value), and the French government being almost entirely dependent upon Niger for the Uranium which fuels its extensive Nuclear Power system, mined in the northern town of Arlit.Decalo (1997).
France has an embassy in Niamey. Niger has an embassy in Paris.22 April 1968Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 April 1968 when Gabon's first Ambassador to Niger, M. Moktar Abdoulaye Mbingt, presented his credentials to President Diori.2 August 1960See Germany–Niger relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 August 1960 Germany has an embassy in Niamey. Niger has an embassy in Berlin.24 August 1961Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 August 1961 when has been appointed first Ambassador of Niger to Ghana M. Tanimoune Ary.18 July 1977See India–Niger relations India has an embassy in Niamey. Niger maintains an embassy in New Delhi.23 September 1961Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 September 1961 when first Ambassador of Italy to Niger M. Renzo Luigi Romanelli, presented his credentials to President of Niger Diori Hamani.
In December 2017, Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni announced that 470 Italian soldiers would be deployed to Niger in an effort to mitigate the European migrant crisis.12 May 1981Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 May 1981 when Ambassador of Niger to Kenya presented his credentials to President Daniel Arap Moi.25 January 2013Niger officially recognised the Republic of Kosovo on 15 August 2011.The Republic of Niger and the Republic of Guinea Conakry recognize Kosovo’s independence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo, 2011-08-16 Kosovo and Niger established diplomatic relations on 25 January 2013.11 March 1962Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 March 1962, when first Lebanese Ambassador to Niger presented his creentials to President Hamani Diori 17 November 1965See Libya–Niger relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 November 1965. Libya has an embassy in Niamey. Niger has an embassy in Tripoli.1 August 1962Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 August 1962
Niger has close relations with its neighbour Mali, with large scale trade links and sizable population movement between the two nations. Both were subject states in French West Africa. Niger and Mali have fought related Tuareg insurgencies in their respective northern territories in the 1990s and mid-2000s.6 November 1975Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 November 1975 Mexico is accredited to Niger from its embassy in Abuja, Nigeria. Niger is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.8 June 1961See Niger–Nigeria relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 June 1961 when M. Elhad Camatte Hammodon Maiga, ambassador of Niger to Nigeria presented his letters of credentials to the Governor General Azikiwe
Nigeria maintains close relations with the Republic of Niger, in part because both nations share a large Hausa minority on each side of their border. Hausa language and cultural ties are strong, but there is little interest in a pan-Hausa state.William F. S. Miles. "Development, not division: local versus external perceptions of the Niger-Nigeria boundary". The Journal of Modern African Studies (2005), 43:2:297-320 The two nations formed the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission for Cooperation (NNJC), established in March, 1971 with its Permanent Secretariat in Niamey, Niger.INTEGRATED ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT IN SHARED CATCHMENTS BETWEEN NIGERIA AND NIGER EGEF Council Documents, MFA Regional Annex, 2006.
Niger has an embassy in Abuja. Nigeria has an embassy in Niamey.15 October 1965Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 October 1965
Pakistan supports Niger's territorial and sovereign integrity and rejects Libya's advances as aggression. See Niger–Russia relations Niger has an embassy in Mosow. In April 2025, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that Russia would reopen its embassy in Niger. May 1965See Niger–Spain relations Niger is accredited to Spain from its embassy in Paris, France. Spain has an embassy in Niamey.30 March 1967See Niger–Turkey relations Niger has an embassy in Ankara. Turkey has an embassy in Niamey. Trade volume between the two countries was US$72 million in 2019.8 April 1975Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 April 1975 when accredited first Ambassador of Niger to Uganda (resident in Addis Ababa) Mr. Oumarou Garba Youssaufou3 August 1960Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 August 1960 when Mr. R. J. Stratton was appointment as Charge d'Affaires ad interim of the United Kingdom to Niger.3 August 1960See Niger–United States relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 August 1960
A conservative foreign policy has meant that under Niger's first president and—following military coup—the 1974–1991 military government, Niger maintained good relations with the United States, Israel, and NATO governments in general. During the Cold War, Niger maintained a non-confrontational attitude to the Soviet Union and its allies.Decalo (1997), Decalo (1990). Recently after Washington added Niger to the list of 39 countries for which visa issuance was suspended, Niger retaliated by banning the entry of American citizens and announcing that it would stop issuing entry visas to American citizens as of August 28, 2025.
Niger has an embassy in Washington, D.C. United States has an embassy in Niamey.
Other
Niger has only 24 permanent embassies abroad, although more have permanent representation in Niamey, either through national embassies or other representatives. The United Kingdom, for instance, operates its permanent office for relations to Niger from Accra, Ghana, while Niger's permanent representative resides at the Nigerien Embassy in Paris.