Summary:

On 1 November, Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine visited Benghazi alongside senior political and military officials, signing a memorandum of understanding with eastern Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar to strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation across various sectors.  

The visit marks a rapprochement between Niamey and eastern Libya, despite Niger maintaining relations with both rival Libyan administrations. 

Outlook: 

The visit signals eastern Libya’s growing ambition to join other external actors, including Algeria, in expanding influence in Niger. For Saddam Haftar, Khalifa’s son and an increasingly prominent figure in the family’s strategic direction, the rapprochement represents an opportunity to extend the Haftar family’s regional reach beyond Libya’s borders, consolidate control of the Fezzan, and establish a foothold in the Sahel. 

This would place the Haftar camp among the regional actors seeking to secure political and security influence in Niger, whose strategic position at the intersection of the Sahel and North Africa offers opportunities to shape cross-border dynamics. 

However, the extent of this engagement remains uncertain, as the memorandum’s provisions have not been made public, and it is unclear whether the rapprochement will lead to concrete security and economic cooperation or remain largely diplomatic. 

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