The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has confirmed it has suspended operations in Niger following an order from the country’s military-led government to shut down its offices.
In February, Niger’s government ordered the ICRC to begin closing its offices and expelling foreign staff. While no formal deadline was initially given, the expulsion process has now effectively concluded.
On May 31, Niger’s President, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, accused the Red Cross of holding meetings with leaders of armed terrorist groups currently fighting the government. The ICRC acknowledged it had met with such figures but maintained the meetings were part of its neutral humanitarian mandate. The organization emphasized that it meets with all parties in armed conflicts and does not provide financial, logistical, or material support to any group.
Since seizing power in a coup in August 2023, Niger’s military government has launched a campaign it describes as a defense of national sovereignty, aiming to eliminate what it sees as harmful foreign influence. This effort has included the expulsion of French, U.S., and other Western forces—most notably the closure of a U.S. drone base near Agadez. Once described as the largest and most expensive drone base in the world, the facility is now occupied by Russian personnel.
In November 2024, the Nigerien government banned operations by the French NGO ACTED. The move aligns with policies enacted by Niger’s allies in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—Burkina Faso and Mali—which have also expelled or restricted operations by Western-funded NGOs they accuse of undermining state authority.
The closure of Red Cross operations in Niger threatens to further exacerbate a growing humanitarian crisis, with millions already affected by food shortages, conflict, and climate-related disasters.
The move reflects a broader regional trend in the Sahel, once a Western-dominated sphere of influence, where governments are increasingly pushing back against international NGOs and distancing themselves from former colonial powers.