The Nigerian government has expressed deep concern over the political and security situation in neighbouring Niger Republic and called for an inclusive return to stability and constitutional order, following a failed mutiny in the capital Niamey.
In a press statement issued on Sunday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Spokesperson Oluwafemi Adeniyi said Nigeria views the developments “with deep concern.”
“As a neighbour with which it shares close historical, fraternal and cultural bonds, the Federal Government of Nigeria is keenly desirous to see that peace, security, democracy and development reign supreme in the country,” the statement read.
The ministry stressed that a peaceful and stable Niger would have a direct positive impact on Nigeria, the wider sub-region and the Sahel.
“Any resort to the use of force to settle political differences detracts from this objective,” it added.
Nigeria therefore urged the government and people of Niger “to work together towards an inclusive and participatory return to stability and constitutional order in the interest of the country, regional peace and stability.”
The statement comes a day after mutinous soldiers launched attacks on key sites in Niamey, including the Diori Hamani International Airport and areas near the presidential palace. Niger’s military junta, in power since a 2023 coup, said it had contained the unrest with the support of loyalist forces.
Nigeria’s response underscores its longstanding interest in regional stability, given the shared borders, cultural ties and the spillover risks of insecurity in the Sahel.
