The Mahatma Gandhi International Conference Centre in Niamey hosted the second edition of the Nigerien Diaspora Forum from 28 to 29 July 2026. This hybrid event—held in person and online—brought together overseas community representatives, government officials and international experts. The event’s stated aim was to leverage the skills and resources of Nigeriens living abroad as a means of supporting the country’s economic recovery.
A ninth strategic region for development
At the opening of the proceedings, the national authorities emphasised the central role played by the diaspora in the country’s institutional framework. The Head of State, General Abdourahamane Tiani, stressed in his official address that the country gives priority to the use its own human resources. The country’s leadership now refers to the diaspora as Niger’s ninth region. This community has technical and financial potential that can be harnessed in education, industry, agriculture and technology. The statistical data released at the opening ceremony shows the scale of financial flows generated from abroad. In 2024, remittances reached 725 million US dollars, equivalent to approximately 400 billion CFA francs and 3.5 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product. Sylvia Ekra, Regional Director of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) for West and Central Africa, provided additional context to these figures by pointing out that informal remittances are not captured in these statistics.
“The Nigerien diaspora is not a marginal issue; it is an integral part of the national project and of the debate on the country’s future.”
The need for mutual trust
Despite these steady cash flows, the sectoral round-table discussions highlighted structural barriers. Issa Aboubacar Alpha, former president of the High Council of Nigeriens in Benin, highlighted the expectations of the resident communities. According to him, the successful implementation of investment projects depends directly on the establishment of a genuine relationship of trust between the State and its citizens.
“The key driver, as I have told you, is trust. We do not need foreign investors. We Nigeriens abroad can achieve a great deal ourselves.”
The interactive discussions also addressed the direct involvement of expatriates in the local entrepreneurial landscape. The government is encouraging investors from the diaspora to spearhead national businesses in an effort to reduce dependence on foreign firms. For the attendees, this approach is underpinned by a steadfast patriotic commitment in the face of claims of insecurity circulating beyond the country’s borders.
Institutional conditions and prospects
The analyses from institutional experts structure public policy around two fundamental pillars. The first pillar is based on an in-depth sociological understanding of the diaspora, achieved through thorough mapping that identifies skills and profiles. The second pillar focuses on the development of ‘invisible’ infrastructure, in which legal protection and administrative transparency play a key role.
The technical challenge lies in shifting from passive family solidarity towards productive investments focused on long-term, structuring projects. “The aim is obviously not to substitute this solidarity. It is to create, alongside it, the conditions enabling those who so wish to contribute in other ways: by investing in businesses, in structural projects, in local areas and in the creation of sustainable opportunities,” Sylvia Ekra opined.
The presence of delegations from the countries of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), notably Burkina Faso and Mali, confirms a regional geopolitical consensus on the issue of migration. This alliance shares a common desire to build on endogenous resources as a means of cushioning the impact of current economic shocks.
Following the plenary sessions, the recommendations from the sectoral committees will be forwarded to the relevant executive departments. These proposals focus on modernising the High Council for Nigeriens Abroad and establishing monitoring indicators. The assessment of this second edition will depend on the administrative implementation of the resolutions adopted in Niamey.
