Niger’s military-led government has expelled three Chinese officials working in the country’s oil sector, in what appears to be the latest move by regional military administrations to assert greater control over national resources.
According to two sources familiar with the situation, the Nigerien junta ordered the directors of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), the West African Oil Pipeline Company (WAPCo), and the joint venture refinery SORAZ to leave the country. The directive was issued on Wednesday, giving the officials 48 hours to depart.
One source close to the government confirmed on Friday that the officials had already left Niger. Another source, who is associated with the affected companies, stated that the expulsion was linked to disputes over local staff wages and delays in project implementation.
In a separate development, Niger’s Ministry of Tourism last week revoked the operating license of a Chinese-owned hotel in Niamey, citing discriminatory practices.
Government officials from the military junta, which took power in a 2023 coup, and Niger’s Ministry of Oil declined to comment on the matter. Likewise, CNPC and WAPCo did not respond to requests for statements, and SORAZ could not be reached for comment.
Niger had previously signed a $400 million memorandum of understanding with CNPC for crude oil sales from the Agadem oilfield. However, since the military coup, the junta has taken an assertive stance on national resources, including canceling defense agreements with France and the United States and taking control of the French nuclear fuels company Orano’s Somair uranium mine.
Similar trends have been observed in other West African nations, such as Mali and Burkina Faso, where military governments have used legal disputes to increase control over valuable resources, including gold.
Source: TimesLive (timeslive.co.za)
