Niamey Urban Community

Niamey—Niger's capital with 1.5 million people—exemplifies the fragility of Sahelian governance. The city was placed under direct military rule in April 2024 when junta leader General Tchiani dissolved local governments and replaced the elected mayor with an army official. This followed the July 2023 coup that overthrew elected President Bazoum and expelled both French and US forces. The US military withdrawal completed in September 2024, ending security cooperation that had anchored Niamey's geopolitical position. Economically, the city dominates through informal commerce and government functions, with uranium industry revenues from the 1970s-80s funding infrastructure that now deteriorates. Niamey is one of the world's hottest major cities, prone to both droughts and floods, with the Niger River providing the sole municipal water supply. The population is predominantly Muslim, split between traditional Sufi orders and newer Salafist movements. Poverty remains extreme, living conditions unhealthy, and the economy heavily dependent on foreign aid that has diminished since the coup. The Zarma and Hausa communities coexist, their languages serving as lingua francas. By 2026, Niamey's trajectory depends on whether the junta can attract alternative investment (Russian, Chinese, or Arab), whether Western sanctions and aid cuts destabilize governance, and whether the city can maintain basic services without the foreign assistance it has relied upon for decades.