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In Niger, the suspension of Maison de la Presse's activities is the result of a tug-of-war between the ruling junta and the Maison de la Presse Association. The Association had denounced the collapse of democracy and reminded the ruling military regime of the importance of respecting fundamental freedoms. 

At the same time, Niger decided to suspend commercial flights to and from Nigeria, given that Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali had withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), led by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu. However, following ECOWAS's request for sanctions to be lifted, the reopening of borders with Nigeria marks a turning point in bilateral relations, offering the prospect of normalized trade between the two countries after the period of tension following the coup d'état. This decision could signify a willingness to reintegrate into the regional concert, even if security and diplomatic challenges remain worrying for Niger.

However, the closure of the border between Niger and Benin - despite its reopening on the Beninese side - bears witness to the tensions that have persisted since the coup d'état in July. The Niger authorities justify this measure on security grounds, in a context where mistrust of foreign intervention persists, particularly towards France. Relations between Niger and Benin have also been strained, with supporters of the Conseil national pour la sauvegarde de la patrie (CNSP) appearing to punish Benin for its role within ECOWAS. 

A presidential decree in Niger has abolished controls on defense spending, exempting purchases of military equipment from public procurement and accounting laws. This decision, justified by the urgent need to reinforce the fight against terrorism, has raised concerns about opacity and the risk of corruption. Some link this measure to the strengthening of military cooperation with Russia and the possible involvement of the Wagner Group, although this has not yet been documented. However, specialists warn of the risk of embezzlement, recalling past corruption scandals in Niger's defense sector.

On the security front, Niger suffered an attack on an army-escorted convoy near Agadez, resulting in the injury of eight soldiers and one civilian. The attack took place against a backdrop of recurrent robberies and attacks in the Agadez region, with its gold mining sites. This is indicative of the many security challenges facing the country. It is against this backdrop that the Nigerien army has stepped up its efforts to counter terrorist groups operating in the country, and has succeeded in neutralizing 60 of them in the south-west of the country. Despite these efforts, attacks on villages continued, resulting in the death of nine civilians in the Tillabéri region.

In addition, the army carried out successful operations against "armed bandits", killing ten and capturing another in the north of the country. The arrest of a terrorist and his accomplice in Niamey testifies to the authorities' efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and ensure national security.

As with France, Niger has decided to break off military cooperation with the United States, which could open the door to new partners, notably Russia. The Agadez military base, strategic for the United States, finds itself at the heart of these geopolitical stakes, with Russia advancing its pawns in the region, Tchiani having held talks with Poutine to "strengthen" cooperation between Russia and Niger at the end of the month.