Niger Suspends Moroccan Intelligence Ties, Rejects Foreign Control

Niger"s military government has suspended intelligence cooperation with Morocco after discovering links between Moroccan surveillance systems in Niamey and French intelligence contractors. The decision was made following an investigation that revealed the Moroccan network, tied to the country"s Directorate General for External Security (DGED), was underperforming and connected to private French intelligence operations.

Orders from DGDSE chief Bala Araby led to the dismantling of the surveillance infrastructure overnight. This move reflects Niger"s ongoing efforts to reduce French influence in its security sector, particularly since the military coup in 2023. The authorities are increasingly focused on reclaiming sovereignty over their security institutions.

This development is part of a broader trend in the Sahel region, where military juntas in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso are shifting away from Western alliances and frameworks in favor of regional collaborations. In a significant change, Niger"s military is now prioritizing human intelligence, with Presidential Guards actively patrolling sensitive areas in Niamey on foot and by motorcycle.

The suspension of intelligence ties with Morocco signals a clear message from Niamey: the government will no longer accept foreign control or backdoors in its security apparatus, even if those connections are masked by regional partnerships. As previously reported, the Sahel continues to see a reconfiguration of power dynamics, with local governments asserting greater autonomy from former colonial powers.