Red Cross pulls out of Niger following government orders
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has ceased operations in Niger at the request of its government, reports Reuters via ICRC on July 6th. The government cited its allegation that the humanitarian organisation was colluding with insurgents.
The Red Cross writes, “By note verbale dated 31 January 2025, the Niger Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded the closure of the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the immediate departure of our expatriate staff.”
The United Nations states that around four and a half million people, or almost 20% of the Nigerien population, accessed the organisation’s aid in 2024. Such a number is a consequence of several critical pressures in the country, such as insecurity, epidemics, and natural disasters.
Niger’s ruling regime staged a coup d’état in 2023 that deposed the government of President Mohamed Bazoum, as reported by Maghrebi.org on July 28th, 2023. Following this, the new regime and military leaders of Mali and Burkina Faso expelled Western forces and sought Russian support in fighting militant groups in the region.
Abdourahamane Tchiani, leader of Niger’s post-coup administration, accused the Red Cross of working with Islamist insurgents on state television in late May this year, and later said that the organisation was ordered to leave.
The Red Cross rejected the accusation, asserting that to “fulfil its humanitarian mandate to protect and assist victims of armed conflict, the ICRC engages in a spoken or written dialogue with all parties to a conflict.” It went on to say that it “never provides those parties with financial, logistical or other support.”
The ICRC Regional Director, Patrick Youssef stated: “Our priority in Niger has been to help the most vulnerable people affected by ongoing armed conflicts and to do so with transparency, independence, neutrality and impartiality.”
The Red Cross lamented the government’s decision, and after 35 years in the nation, removed all foreign personnel from Niger as the order demanded. The organization has been signaling its availability for dialogue with the military junta’s leadership to clarify the reasons for the decision, so far without success.
Reuters, The International Committee of the Red Cross, Maghrebi.org
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