Niger quits international group of French-speaking nations

|Published 12:45 PM ET, Tuesday March 18, 2025|

​Niamey: Niger has officially withdrawn from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), the global association of French-speaking nations, further distancing itself from France, its former colonial power. This decision follows a series of actions by Niger’s military government to reduce French influence, including the expulsion of French troops and the cessation of military agreements. ​

“The Nigerien government has independently decided to withdraw Niger from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie,” the foreign ministry said.

In December 2023, Niger, along with Burkina Faso and Mali, also withdrew from the G5 Sahel, a regional security alliance, citing the bloc’s failure to achieve its objectives. Subsequently, these three nations formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), signaling a shift towards greater regional autonomy and new international partnerships. ​

These developments reflect a broader trend in West Africa, where several countries are reevaluating their relationships with former colonial powers and seeking to assert greater sovereignty in their foreign policies.

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