Niger’s ability to provide food for its citizens has been impacted by ECOWAS sanctions which were in place from July 2023 to February 2024. On top of this, regional flooding likely caused by global climate change is impacting Niger’s ability to grow its staple foods. Thus, the Nigerien government has decided to stop all exports of important cereals such as rice, sorghum, millet, and corn as well as legumes such as the cowpea to all countries outside of the AES. Niger’s government is concerned with guaranteeing its own population its necessary food supply first and foremost.
The willingness to continue exports to Burkina Faso and Mali demonstrate Niger’s commitment to unity among the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) countries. Niger is the third of the three countries to have a revolutionary anti-imperialist seize power through a military-led coup d’état. The three countries seek to unify into one single Pan-African federal state and have formed into a Pan-African confederation in the meantime. The citizens of the three countries, are increasingly adopting a shared AES identity and are in favour of a unification process.
Sources:
https://www.barrons.com/news/niger-bans-grain-exports-to-all-bar-burkina-mali-7f34e260
https://www.dw.com/en/niger-west-african-bloc-ecowas-lifts-post-coup-sanctions/a-68361861