Niger terminates agreement with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

The Nigerien government has announced the termination of its headquarters agreement with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), resulting in the immediate closure of the humanitarian organization’s offices and the departure of its expatriate staff from the country. While the government has not provided official reasons for this decision, tensions had been brewing in recent months.

In November 2024, Nigerien authorities expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of a European Union humanitarian aid package.

They accused the ICRC and other NGOs of unilaterally designating aid recipients without prior consultation with the government.

This lack of coordination reportedly fueled frustration and contributed to the decision to sever ties.

The move represents a significant rupture in the longstanding cooperation between Niger and the ICRC, an organization traditionally tasked with providing humanitarian assistance and protecting populations affected by conflict and crisis.

However, the government has raised concerns about the ICRC’s ambiguous role in its interactions with armed groups, further complicating the relationship.

The ICRC has been active in Niger for many years, but its impact has been questioned, with critics pointing to limited tangible results from its missions.

As a result, the closure of its offices is not expected to drastically affect access to humanitarian aid for vulnerable communities, as other organizations and government initiatives continue to operate.

African observers have largely praised the Nigerien government’s decision, viewing it as a bold step to assert national sovereignty and demand greater accountability from international organizations.

This development underscores the growing tension between national governments and external humanitarian actors in the region, particularly in the context of complex security and political challenges.

Titi KEITA