UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Niger

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UN Entities

• United Nations in Niger: https://unsdg.un.org/un-in-action/niger,
  https://niger.un.org/
  • Thousands of children in Niger at risk of severe nutritional crisis as border closures leave trucks stranded (21 September 2023): https://www.wfp.org/news/thousands-children-niger-risk-severe-nutritional-crisis-border-closures-leave-trucks-stranded
  • Sustained financial support and access are urgently needed to save lives in Niger and Sahel region (FAO/IOM/UNICEF/UNHCR/UNFPA/WFP/WHO, 1 September 2023): https://reliefweb.int/report/niger/sustained-financial-support-and-access-are-urgently-needed-save-lives-niger-and-sahel-region
  • UN agencies continue to deliver aid in Niger (UN News, 14 August 2023): https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/08/1139742
  • United Nations confirms the continuation of humanitarian, development, and peace programmes in Niger (28 July 2023): https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/niger/united-nations-confirms-continuation-humanitarian-development-and-peace-programmes-niger
• United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS): https://unowas.unmissions.org/
  • Special Representative Léonardo Santos Simão participates in the ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit on the Situation In Niger (30 July 2023): https://unowas.unmissions.org/special-representative-l%C3%A9onardo-santos-sim%C3%A3o-participates-ecowas-extraordinary-summit-situation
• Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs – Niger: https://www.unocha.org/niger
  • Reliefweb – Niger: https://reliefweb.int/country/ner
  • Impact story: Breaking the cycle of negative coping strategies – Lessons from anticipatory action in Niger 2022 (24 June 2024): https://tinyurl.com/3k28r3ba
• Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) – Niger: https://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/niger
• Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – Niger: https://www.unhcr.org/countries/niger
  • UNHCR fears an escalating protection crisis in Niger, urges swift action (29 August 2023): https://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing-notes/unhcr-fears-escalating-protection-crisis-niger-urges-swift-action
• International Organization for Migration (IOM) – Niger: https://niger.iom.int/
  • IOM calls for urgent action to prevent escalation of crises in Niger (1 September 2023): https://www.iom.int/news/iom-calls-urgent-action-prevent-escalation-crises-niger
  • Alarming overcrowding in Niger Migrant Transit Centres calls for urgent action: IOM (18 August 2023): https://www.iom.int/news/alarming-overcrowding-niger-migrant-transit-centres-calls-urgent-action-iom
• UN Women
  • Women’s groups in Niger push for justice amid coup and economic crisis (25 October 2023): https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/feature-story/2023/10/womens-groups-in-niger-push-for-justice-amid-coup-and-economic-crisis
• United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) – Niger: https://www.unicef.org/niger/
  • Niger Humanitarian Flash Updates: https://www.unicef.org/topics/niger
• World Food Programme (WFP) – Niger: https://www.wfp.org/countries/niger
  • Sustained financial support and access are urgently needed to save lives in Niger and Sahel region (1 September 2023): https://www.wfp.org/news/sustained-financial-support-and-access-are-urgently-needed-save-lives-niger-and-sahel-region
  • As political crisis rocks Niger, WFP stands firm with hunger and nutrition support (16 August 2023): https://www.wfp.org/stories/wfp-stands-firm-deliver-political-crisis-rocks-niger

Security Council

• Security Council Press Statement on Terrorist Attack in Niger (SC/16032, 27 March 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sc16032.doc.htm
• Meetings in 2023: 28 July
  https://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2023
  Meeting records, press releases and resolutions
  • Security Council Press Statement on Situation in Niger (SC/15372, 28 July 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15372.doc.htm
    (see also: https://journal.un.org/en/new-york/meeting/officials/09d11fc9-439c-4da0-9523-08db8ed9ce34/2023-07-28)
• Meetings in 2021: 29 October – Security Council Mission
  https://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2021
  • Security Council Press Statement on Visit to Mali, Niger (SC/14687, 4 November 2021): https://press.un.org/en/2021/sc14687.doc.htm

Selected Statements and Speeches by UN Officials

• Niger: Türk says egregious mosque attack should be wake-up call (25 March 2025): https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/03/niger-turk-says-egregious-mosque-attack-should-be-wake-up-call
• Secretary-General ‘deeply regrets’ decision by Conseil National pour la Sauvegarde de la Patrie in Niger ordering UN Humanitarian Coordinator to leave country (SG/SM/21988, 11 October 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21988.doc.htm
• Meeting evolving and escalating needs in Niger: A conversation with UNDP Resident Representative Nicole Kouassi (14 September 2023): https://www.undp.org/stories/meeting-evolving-and-escalating-needs-niger
• Statement by UNICEF Representative in Niger Stefano Savi on severe impact of ongoing crisis on millions of vulnerable children (19 August 2023): https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-representative-niger-stefano-savi-severe-impact-ongoing-crisis
• Niger coup: Democracy and lives of most vulnerable at stake, says Human Rights Chief (18 August 2023) : https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/08/niger-coup-democracy-and-lives-most-vulnerable-stake-says-human-rights-chief
• Comment by UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Niger (11 August 2023): https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2023/08/comment-un-human-rights-chief-volker-turk-niger
• Note to Correspondents: Niger (9 August 2023): https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/note-correspondents/2023-08-09/note-correspondents-niger-0
• Guterres concerned over continued detention of Niger’s President (UN News, 7 August 2023): https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/08/1139502
• World Bank Statement on Niger (2 August 2023): https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/statement/2023/08/02/world-bank-statement-on-niger
• Niger crisis could worsen insecurity throughout West Africa, UN envoy warns (1 August 2023): https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/08/1139342
• Press Conference by Secretary-General António Guterres at United Nations Headquarters (press conference on climate and the situation in Niger) (SG/SM/2189, 27 July 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21893.doc.htm
• Comment by UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on military takeover in Niger (27 July 2023): https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2023/07/comment-un-human-rights-chief-volker-turk-military-takeover-niger
• SRSG Simão strongly condemns any attempt to seize power by force in Niger (27 July 2023): https://unowas.unmissions.org/srsg-sim%C3%A3o-strongly-condemns-any-attempt-seize-power-force-niger
• Secretary-General strongly condemns unconstitutional change of government in Niger (SG/SM/21891, 26 July 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21891.doc.htm
• Secretary-General Condemns Any Effort to Seize Power by Force, Undermine Democratic Governance in Niger (SG/SM/21890, 26 July 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21890.doc.htm
• World Bank Statement on Niger (26 July 2023): https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/statement/2023/07/26/world-bank-statement-on-niger
• Secretary-General strongly condemns latest deadly attack against civilians in Niger (SG/SM/20857, 18 August 2021): https://press.un.org/en/2021/sgsm20857.doc.htm
• Secretary-General strongly condemns killing of 137 People in latest Niger attack, calling upon authorities to enhance civilian protection (SG/SM/20648, 23 March 2021): https://press.un.org/en/2021/sgsm20648.doc.htm
• Secretary-General strongly condemns deadly attack in Niger, urging authorities to ‘spare no effort’ in pursuit of perpetrators (SG/SM/20632, 17 March 2021): https://press.un.org/en/2021/sgsm20632.doc.htm
• Secretary-General welcomes holding of Niger Presidential Poll amid security, COVID-19, while condemning attacks against election officials (SG/SM/20595, 23 February 2021): https://press.un.org/en/2021/sgsm20595.doc.htm
• Secretary-General strongly condemns unknown gunmen’s deadly attack in Niger, reaffirming solidarity, support of United Nations (SG/SM/20522, 3 January 2021): https://press.un.org/en/2021/sgsm20522.doc.htm
• Ahead of elections in Niger, Secretary-General calls on national stakeholders to ensure polls are conducted inclusively, peacefully (SG/SM/20515, 26 December 2020): https://press.un.org/en/2020/sgsm20515.doc.htm

Selected UN Documents

• S/2024/120 (5 February 2024): Letter dated 31 January 2024 from the representatives of Burkina Faso, Mali and the Niger to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council: https://docs.un.org/S/2024/120
  Transmits joint communiqué dated 28 Jan. 2024 informing that Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have withdrawn immediately from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
• S/2023/695 (3 October 2024): Letter dated 22 September 2023 from the Permanent Representative of Mali to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council: https://docs.un.org/S/2023/695
  Transmits letter from the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, including a certified copy of the Liptako-Gourma Charter establishing the Alliance of Sahel States, signed on 16 Sept. 2023 by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
• A/HRC/50/23/Add.2 (24 June 2022): Visit to the Niger: report of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, Clément Nyaletsossi Voule: https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/50/23/Add.2
  Visit to the Niger from 6 to 16 Dec. 2021. Summary issued in all official languages; annexed report in French only.
• S/2021/1106 (4 January 2022): Report of the Security Council mission to Mali and the Niger, 23-25 October 2021: https://docs.un.org/S/2021/1106

Further Information

• UN Member States on the Record: Niger
  https://www.un.org/en/library/unms
  United Nations Member States on the Record provides access to selected documents reflecting the views of United Nations Member States.

Non-UN Sources

• Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
  https://ecowas.int/?s=niger
• Security Council Report – What’s in Blue: Security Council Consultations on Niger
  https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/whatsinblue/2023/07/security-council-consultations-on-niger.php

27 March 2025
not an official document – for information only
https://unric.org/en/unric-library-backgrounder-niger/