Niger is grappling with violent extremism and trans-boundary crimes which are cross-cutting security concerns shared with its neighbours including Mali, Nigeria, Libya, Algeria, Burkina Faso and Benin. Niger has historically had consistent mining resources, particularly gold and uranium. The country was ranked among the worldwide uranium top producers in 2019. However, oil discovery in Niger is relatively recent. Besides, the growing interest of criminal and terrorist groups in mining activities at Niger’s borderlands fosters ground for covetousness and revival of local tensions that the state has been struggling to contain for decades. This poses a question of where Niger, with various internal vulnerabilities, is heading in an unstable region. This report aims at scrutinising the risk factors for peace and security in Niger so as to provide strategic options to defuse both the internal and external security turmoil.
