Niger: Renewal of economic relations between the AfDB and Niamey

Following the lifting of criminal sanctions by ECOWAS, Niger has re-established contact with sub-regional and continental institutions. Last week, Minister of Economy and Finance Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine chaired a working session at his office, accompanied by a delegation from the African Development Bank (AfDB) led by Mr. Guedon Désiré, the bank’s administrator.

The objective of the meeting was to provide crucial guidance and instructions for reestablishing relations with the AfDB.

The consultation brought together ministers representing sectors benefiting from AfDB support, including Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Colonel Mahaman Elhadj Ousmane, Minister of National Education Dr. Elisabeth Sherif, and several other high-ranking government officials.

At the conclusion of the discussions, AfDB Administrator Mr. Guedon Désiré stated that the primary purpose of their visit to Niamey was to gather guidance and instructions from Nigerien authorities to convey to the bank’s management and Board of Directors.

He expressed AfDB’s willingness to resume dialogue with Niger now that ECOWAS sanctions have been lifted.

This meeting holds significant importance for Niger in its efforts to restore regular relations with the AfDB after a period of tension resulting from ECOWAS sanctions.

It’s worth noting that the African Development Bank (AfDB), headquartered in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, is one of Niger’s most important development partners.

The sectoral distribution of the bank’s portfolio, which opened its office in Niger in 2018, shows a predominance of investments in transportation (39%), followed by rural development (26%), energy (24%), telecommunications (7%), governance (2%), and social sectors (2%).

Fanta Djibo