Defying the odds? Nigerien responses to foreign and domestic security challenges

Sebastian Elischer
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Sebastian Elischer: University of Florida

No 11, West African Papers from OECD Publishing

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to identify the manifold security threats confronting the Republic of Niger. It examines if and how various domestic and external actors may exploit Niger’s adverse structural conditions to their benefit and derives possible future scenarios and recommendations for policymakers. Foreign-based jihadist groups such as Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Boko Haram will continue to threaten Niger’s domestic stability. However, these groups are unlikely to make further inroads into Nigerien territory. The Tuareg community and conservative Sunni groups are unlikely to rise up against the state as both are well integrated into the political and societal landscape. The most viable threat to Niger’s stability is the continued inability of the current administration to translate macroeconomic gains and donor support into pro-poor growth and social inclusion. The increasing use of authoritarian measures against citizens and journalists has the potential to escalate further and to undermine the legitimacy of the government in the long-term.

Keywords: Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb; jihadist groups; Niger; security; West Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D74 F5 H56 N47 N57 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018-01-26
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:oec:swacaa:11-en

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