Niger has opted to exit the military coalition aimed at combating armed groups in the Lake Chad area, saying it will prioritise the protection of its oil operations from attacks.
According to a bulletin released by the Nigerien army and broadcast on state television on Saturday, the operation previously known as the Multinational Joint Task Force will now be referred to as “Nalewa Dole” due to Niger’s withdrawal.
The statement indicated that this decision “reflects a stated intent to reinforce security for oil sites,” without providing additional details.
The four nations that border Lake Chad—Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria—have been facing insurgencies since 2009, when violent campaigns by Boko Haram in Nigeria’s northeast spread to neighboring countries.
The resulting conflict, which has involved other extremist groups like a Daesh affiliate called ISWAP, has resulted in over 40,000 deaths and the displacement of millions, creating one of the most severe humanitarian crises globally.
However, since the coup in July 2023, Niger’s military leadership has accused Nigeria of backing foreign forces to disrupt its stability, an allegation that Abuja denies.
In southeastern Niger, particularly a pipeline that runs from the landlocked country to Benin, oil infrastructure frequently comes under attack from armed groups.
Towards the end of last year, Chad threatened to withdraw from the Joint Task Force following an attack that resulted in the deaths of approximately 40 of its soldiers, citing a lack of coordinated efforts.
