After the United States, Germany Knocks on Niger's Door: What Are the Western Powers Seeking in Niamey?

Isabel Hénin, Germany's special envoy for the Sahel, met with Niger's Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine in Niamey on October 8, 2026. She expressed Germany's commitment to Niger, discussing cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure, decentralization, peace, and social cohesion, without specific projects announced. Germany and the US have withdrawn their troops from the region in 2024, but security, migration, and Niger's sovereignty continue to be major concerns in the Sahel and Lake Chad basin areas.