Jump to content

Germany–Niger relations

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Germany–Niger relations
Map indicating locations of Germany and Niger

Germany
Niger

Germany–Niger relationsfocus primarily on cooperation in development, security, and migration policy. Since 2016, bilateral relations have been significantly intensified, with severalstate visitsat the highest level.

History[edit]

West Germanyopened an embassy inNiameyin 1963. From the beginning, cooperation was primarily focused on development cooperation. One year later, a treaty on the promotion of capital investments was signed, and in 1968 the predecessor organization of today'sGesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeitsets up an office inNiamey.After the abandonment of theHallstein Doctrine,Niger also maintained official diplomatic relations with theGerman Democratic Republicfrom 1975 untilGerman reunification.(GDR).[1]In 1977, a technical cooperation agreement was agreed.[2]

On November 15, 1999, the German embassy was closed in the face of unrest that erupted after the assassination of PresidentIbrahim Baré Maïnassara,and reopened on September 6, 2002.[3]

In 2010, the German government temporarily suspended development aid to the country following themilitary coupagainst Nigerien PresidentMamadou Tandja.[1]

After 2016, relations between the two countries were intensified significantly. That year, Development MinisterGerd Müller,Foreign MinisterFrank-Walter Steinmeier,Defense MinisterUrsula von der Leyenand German ChancellorAngela Merkelvisited the country. In return, Niger's PresidentMahamadou Issoufouvisited Germany several times between 2016 and 2018. During government negotiations, German development aid was doubled to over 115 million for the period 2018–2020. Per capita, the country thus became one of the largest recipients of aid.[2]In May 2019, Chancellor Merkel visited the country again as part of a West Africa trip. The agenda included security policy, cooperation in the fight against illegal migration and transnational drug trafficking, and the development partnership between the two countries.[4]

As of 2012, Germany is participating in the EU civilian missionEUCAP Sahel Niger,which aims to train Niger'spolice,national guard,andgendarmerieand enable them to effectively combatorganized crimeandterrorism.[5]TheBundeswehris also training forces and security personnel in Niger. From 2013, Germany used a base in Niamey since 2013 as a supply hub for its forces in neighbouring Mali where they were serving as part of the United Nations peacekeeping missionMINUSMA.[6]In May 2022, ChancellorOlaf Scholzvisited the base.[7]Shortly after the European Union ended its military mission in the country in 2024, Germany kept its military air transport hub in Niamey open.[8]

Economic relations[edit]

Due to poverty in the country, Niger is not a major buyer of German goods. The countries' bilateral trade volume in 2021 was a comparatively modest 27 millioneuros.[9]

Germany has been an important partner in development cooperation for decades. From 1962 to about 2022, development aid given was over one billion euros. Priority areas include food security, governance, education, health, migration management, and employment. The long-standing partnership gives Germany a good public image in the country.[10][2]

Sports[edit]

The GermansHeinz-Peter Überjahn(1980) andGernot Rohr(2012-2014) were coaches of theNiger national football team.

Diplomatic missions[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ab"Deutsch-nigrische Beziehungen - pangloss.de".Retrieved2022-10-03.
  2. ^abc"Deutschland und Niger: bilaterale Beziehungen"(PDF).Auswärtiges Amt.2019-03-21.Retrieved2022-10-03.
  3. ^"Verzeichnis der Vertretungen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland im Ausland"(PDF).Auswärtiges Amt. 2021-01-20.Retrieved2022-10-03.
  4. ^"Merkels liebstes Land".Zeit Online.Retrieved2022-10-03.
  5. ^"Factsheet EUCAP Sahel Niger"(PDF).EEAS. 2019.Retrieved2022-10-02.
  6. ^Sabine Siebold (28 May 2024),Germany to keep military base in Niger open under temporary deal, Berlin saysReuters.
  7. ^"Zu viel des Guten in Niger?".n-tv.de(in German).Retrieved2022-10-15.
  8. ^Sabine Siebold (28 May 2024),Germany to keep military base in Niger open under temporary deal, Berlin saysReuters.
  9. ^"Rangfolge der Handelspartner im Außenhandel"(PDF).Statistisches Bundesamt.Retrieved2022-09-30.
  10. ^"Deutschland und Niger: bilaterale Beziehungen"(PDF).Auswärtiges Amt.2019-03-21.Retrieved2022-10-03.
  11. ^Auswärtiges Amt."Deutsche Vertretungen in Niger"(in German).Retrieved2022-10-03.
  12. ^Auswärtiges Amt."Vertretungen Nigers in Deutschland"(in German).Retrieved2022-10-03.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Germany–Niger_relations&oldid=1226530225"