Red Cross closes Niger offices and foreign staff leave after junta’s expulsion order
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The Red Cross exits Niger after the junta’s expulsion order, ending decades of humanitarian work amid rising regional tensions.
Red Cross Closes Niger Offices Following Junta’s Expulsion Order
ICRC Ends Operations and Withdraws Foreign Staff After Four Months of Tensions
Closure Announcement by the ICRC
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) officially announced the closure of its Niger offices and the withdrawal of all foreign staff on Thursday. This comes four months after Niger’s ruling military junta ordered the organization to cease operations and exit the country.
Willingness to Maintain Dialogue
Despite the forced departure, Patrick Youssef, the ICRC’s regional director for Africa, emphasized the organization’s continued desire for constructive communication. He stated the ICRC remains open to dialogue with Niger’s authorities, hoping to resume its humanitarian protection and assistance activities in the future.
Expulsion Order and Lack of Explanation
In February, Niger’s Foreign Affairs Ministry issued the directive for the ICRC to shut down its offices and leave the country. The junta did not provide an official explanation at that time for this drastic action, leaving the international community and the ICRC seeking clarity.
Failed Attempts at Clarification
Since the expulsion order, the ICRC engaged in ongoing talks with Nigerien officials in an effort to understand the reasons behind the ban and to offer any necessary clarifications. However, these diplomatic efforts did not yield positive results, ultimately leading to the organization’s withdrawal.
Junta’s Accusations Against the ICRC
On May 31, Abdourahamane Tchiani, the junta leader, publicly justified the expulsion during a televised address. He accused the Red Cross of meeting with “terrorist leaders” and allegedly providing funds to armed groups, allegations the ICRC strongly denied.
ICRC Refutes Allegations
The ICRC firmly rejected the junta’s accusations, affirming in its statement that engagement with all parties in a conflict is essential for humanitarian work. It stressed that it never offers financial, logistical, or any support to armed groups, maintaining strict neutrality in its mission.
Longstanding Humanitarian Role in Niger
Since 1990, the ICRC has been deeply involved in Niger, providing aid primarily to those displaced by violence linked to Islamic extremist groups, as well as victims of food shortages and natural disasters. The organization has reached over two million people across the country.
Political Context: Niger’s Coup and Regional Instability
Niger’s current military rulers seized power two years ago in a coup—the latest in a series of military takeovers across Africa’s Sahel region. This vast, arid zone south of the Sahara has seen a surge in extremist militant activity, worsening security challenges.
Shift in Niger’s International Alliances
Since the coup, Niger has distanced itself from traditional Western partners such as France and the United States. Instead, the junta has increasingly turned toward Russia for security cooperation, signaling a significant geopolitical realignment in the region.
Other Foreign Aid Bans by the Junta
The expulsion of the ICRC follows a similar move last November when Niger’s military government banned the French aid organization Acted from operating in the country. These actions highlight the junta’s growing suspicion and tightening control over foreign aid groups amid strained international relations.
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