Topic:
Country: Niger
Delegate Name: Hannah Weber
Niger has had a complex and evolving stance on Private Military Contractors (PMCs), largely influenced by its political landscape, security concerns, and foreign relations. The country, situated in the Sahel region of West Africa, faces significant security challenges due to insurgent groups, including those affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, and the broader instability in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso. Overall, Niger is open to the use of Private Military Contractors because of the conflict in surrounding countries and security concerns.
Historically, Niger has relied on foreign military and security assistance to combat both terrorism and insurgency, with France, the United States, and regional allies being the main partners. Though Niger has not used PMCs to the extent that Libya and the Central African Republic, the use of private contractors has been a large discussion in the context of the security threats throughout the Sahel region. Following the military coup in July 2023, there has been speculation that the Russian private military contractor group, the Wager Group, providing security because of its involvement and government support in Mali and the Central African Republic. The current military leaders of Niger have shown interest in exploring alternative security partnerships, including Russia.
Neighboring countries such as Mali and Burkina Faso have been more open to engaging with PMCs and have started to distance themselves from Western allies and replace French troops with the Russian Wagner Group creating tensions. Niger is a member of the G5 Sahel along with Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Mauritania, and the group is being pressured to navigate its relationship with both Western powers and Russia carefully. Niger is open to pursuing similar relationships with PMCs because of regional trends and is open to non-Western security solutions. Niger doesn’t have any available legal framework that addresses the use of PMCs and the regulation of PMCs is handled within the broader context of national security laws and defense agreements. In the past, Niger has been more focused on cooperation agreements with states than private contractors, though this could change in the context of growing instability in the Sahel region. The government may view PMCs as a way to strengthen security capabilities if external support becomes less reliable.
As seen in surrounding countries, the use of PMCs is often a double-edged sword. On one hand, PMCs like the Wagner Group often aid in supporting local governments and combating terrorists. On the other hand, there is often increasing amounts of violence and abuses of human rights. Niger’s position on PMCs is evolving, and though they have never used PMCs as a part of their defense strategy, Niger is open to the use of PMCs though some restrictions may be needed.
