Niger's Military Government Faces Worsening Security and Economic Woes Three Years Post-Coup

The military seized power in Niger on July 26, 2023. General Abdourahamane Tchiani, who became head of state, justified the coup by citing the poor security situation, which he said persisted despite international support.

In the weeks that followed, the military government announced a transitional period that was to last a maximum of three years.

However, the political promises made upon taking office have not been fulfilled. The transitional government continues to hold all the reins, and the security situation in the Sahel country remains fragile.

In the Tillabery region in southwestern Niger, attacks by jihadists are on the rise. Thousands of people have been forced to flee their villages, plunging the region into a severe humanitarian crisis.

"Today, attacks on the armed forces and the civilian population are significantly more frequent and violent than they were three years ago," Maiga, a resident of the city of Tera, which has a population of 30,000, told DW. Maiga wished to remain anonymous for security reasons.

"Life used to be better despite the insecurity; the weekly markets operated normally and supplies arrived regularly," he said, adding that at the moment entire villages had fled and schools are closed.

The independent conflict monitor ACLED has also said the the security situation has deteriorated since the 2023 coup.

According to the organization, the Tillaberi region remains the main hot spot for clashes between two rival Islamist groups, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin and the so-called Islamic State in the Sahel Province (formerly ISGS). This rivalry has resulted in numerous casualties among soldiers and civilians.

In 2025, nearly 1,200 deaths were recorded in the region. For Heni Nsaibia, a staff member at ACLED, these figures attest to the scale of the security crisis affecting Niger.

The most recent major attack, on July 17, claimed the lives of at least 16 soldiers, according to Niger's state media, ANP. Fifteen terrorists were killed in that attack, ANP said.

"The situation in Niger has worsened, particularly in the Tillabery region, where the death toll is the highest in the central Sahel," Nsaibia told DW.

Insecurity taking a toll on civilians

"We live in makeshift shelters and are defenseless against the elements; we take on small odd jobs to survive," a woman told DW.

"I used to be able to live with dignity from my work, but right now it's very difficult; even [portable] drinking water is a problem for us," added a local herder.

Young Nigeriens are torn between disappointment and optimism: In the youth assemblies, known as "Fadas," the topic continues to spark discussion. Some — like Fadila — believe that the situation is gradually stabilizing after the turmoil of the first few years.

"For a while, it wasn't easy at all: Salaries weren't paid on time, food supplies… that wasn't easy. But for some time now, things have been going pretty well overall," Fadila told DW.

General Tchiani has emphasized that young people can once again participate in politics. "Before the coup, young people were excluded from decision-making bodies." But in the meantime, he said, an advisory commission has been established that includes young people. "So that means the concerns of young people are now being taken into account in decision-making bodies."

Just two days after the ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum in 2023, junta leader Tchiani announced plans to combat corruption and boost the economy.

But three years later, the people of Niger are no better off, noted Tahirou Garka, a close ally of Bazoum. He is the spokesperson for the G25, a movement advocating for a return to constitutional order in Niger.

"They have failed economically and socially," he said, referring to the military government. "People are struggling to find drinking water; there is no water, no electricity, no fuel."

However, Hamani Oumarou of LASDEL, a social sciences research institute based in Niamey, takes a different view. According to him, the socioeconomic situation has improved for a large portion of Niger's population, especially for those who are not part of the middle class or the elite.

"Households with low incomes have more money left over to feed their families," Oumarou told DW. However, Niger is also forced to import food at certain times of the year, which leads to a sharp rise in prices.

Rebuilding ties with ECOWAS

Along with Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger is a founding member of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which was formed in 2023 after all the three countries withdrew from the West African regional organization ECOWAS.

The AES has distanced itself from Western partners and is seeking closer ties with Russia.

Pape Ibrahima Kane, an expert on international organizations, now hopes for a rapprochement between the AES member states and their longtime allies in West Africa.

He sees a positive sign in the fact that former Guinean Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate was elected chief negotiator for ECOWAS a few days ago. According to Kane, Kouyate seems to have been accepted by the AES.

"We are at the beginning of a promising process, as both sides are truly on the same page when it comes to starting talks," he told DW.

For him, economic negotiations should also play a role. Niger depends on access to the port of Benin and on its electricity supply from Nigeria and Benin, both of which are ECOWAS member states.