Relationship dossier
Niger
Western Sahara
Relationship assessment
Niger’s policy on Western Sahara has aligned with Morocco’s position on the disputed territory.
Niger toward Western Sahara
-35Niger withdrew recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and opened a consulate in Dakhla, actions aligning its policy with Morocco’s position on Western Sahara and opposing the Sahrawi independence claim.
Western Sahara toward Niger
Not assessedOverall relationship
Not assessedHow to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Niger’s policy on Western Sahara has aligned with Morocco’s position: Niger withdrew recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and opened a consulate in Dakhla, in the disputed territory. These steps indicate opposition to the Sahrawi independence claim. Western Sahara’s status remains disputed, and the territory does not have an independent government whose conduct toward Niger can be assessed as a separate bilateral policy.
Areas of tension
- The status of Western Sahara and the Sahrawi independence claim.
Key developments
Niger opened a consulate in Dakhla, in the disputed territory, aligning its policy with Morocco’s position on Western Sahara.
Niger withdrew recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
Major uncertainties
- The precise scope and implementation of Niger’s policy toward the Sahrawi independence claim are unclear.
- Western Sahara’s disputed status complicates attribution of government conduct toward Niger.