Micah McCartney
Niger's expulsion of several Chinese oil executives over wage and employment disputes marks a reputational setback for China as it seeks to expand its influence across the African continent.
Niger, a former French colony located in the Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert, remains one of the world's least-developed nations, despite its significant resource wealth, including uranium.
Once a key U.S. counterterrorism partner, Niger's ties with the West have eroded in recent years—particularly after a 2023 military coup. The new junta expelled French peacekeepers fighting an Islamist insurgency and ordered the United States to vacate two drone bases, citing Washington's "condescending attitude."
Niger has openly embraced stronger security ties with Russia and secured heavy Chinese investment in its energy sector.
Rising Tensions
Earlier this month, Niger's junta expelled three Chinese oil executives serving as local directors of the West African Oil Pipeline Company, China National Petroleum Corporation, and the joint-venture refinery SORAZ, according to Reuters.
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