Three years after ousting President Mohamed Bazoum, Niger’s military government under General Abdourahamane Tiani has overseen worsening insecurity and sharply restricted civic freedoms, according to former ambassador Kiari Liman-Tinguiri. Security data shows rising jihadist attacks, particularly in the Tillabéri region, undermining the coup’s original justification of restoring stability. Alongside this, political parties and independent civil society have been dismantled, and media controls tightened. Although the economy expanded by an estimated 7% in 2025 following double-digit growth the previous year, much of that momentum stems from projects initiated before the coup. While the military’s actions have given it greater political control, it has come at the expense of ordinary Nigeriens who cannot even demand accountability. Over the longer term, sustained authoritarian rule could further destabilize the broader Sahel, including Mali and Burkina Faso.
RFI