Niger has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with authorities in eastern Libya, marking another step in Niamey’s efforts to strengthen relations with neighbouring countries amid growing security and political challenges across the Sahel and North Africa.
The memorandum of understanding was signed in Benghazi on Sunday, November 1, 2026, during a visit by Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine and a delegation of political and military officials.
The agreement was concluded with General Saddam Haftar, deputy commander of the armed forces in eastern Libya and son of military commander Khalifa Haftar. The head of the eastern Libyan administration, Osama Hammad, was also present at the meeting.
According to Niger’s prime minister, the agreement is intended to strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation across different sectors. He also emphasised the need for continued consultations and coordination to ensure that commitments made by both sides are implemented.
However, neither government has publicly released the full text of the memorandum or provided a detailed list of its provisions.
Niger strengthens ties with eastern Libya
The visit to Benghazi represents a diplomatic engagement between Niger’s government and the authorities controlling eastern Libya.
Saddam Haftar received the Nigerien delegation alongside Osama Hammad, with discussions focusing on the historical relationship between the two countries and opportunities to improve cooperation.
Niger shares a border of more than 340 kilometres with Libya, making developments in the neighbouring country important to its security and economic interests.
The border region faces challenges associated with trafficking, smuggling networks, irregular migration and the movement of armed groups. Cooperation between authorities on both sides could therefore become important in addressing cross-border security concerns.
The agreement also provides a framework for further discussions, although its practical impact will depend on the specific arrangements eventually adopted.
Some regional media reports have suggested that the discussions could involve military coordination, intelligence sharing, border surveillance and efforts against organised crime. However, these details have not been confirmed in the publicly announced memorandum and should not be treated as established provisions.
Niger maintains relations with rival Libyan administrations
The agreement is significant because Libya remains politically divided between competing administrations.
The internationally recognised Government of National Unity, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, operates from Tripoli in the west. Eastern Libya is controlled by a rival administration headed by Osama Hammad, backed by the forces of Khalifa Haftar.
The political division has persisted since 2014, despite repeated international efforts to reunify the country and establish a unified political and military structure.
Niger has maintained contacts with both sides rather than limiting its diplomatic engagement to one administration.
In June 2026, Niger’s prime minister visited Tripoli, where discussions with Dbeibah focused on economic and investment partnerships, border security, organised crime and irregular migration.
During that visit, Niger and Libya’s internationally recognised government also signed a separate memorandum on military cooperation. The two sides discussed reactivating their joint contact mechanisms and strengthening coordination between relevant institutions.
The latest agreement in Benghazi therefore adds another dimension to Niger’s engagement with Libya, as Niamey seeks working relationships with authorities on both sides of the country’s political divide.
Regional security remains a major concern
The agreement comes as Niger and its neighbours continue to confront security problems across the Sahel.
Niger has experienced years of militant attacks, particularly in areas close to its borders with Mali and Burkina Faso. The wider region also faces challenges involving trafficking networks, armed groups and the movement of weapons and other illicit goods.
Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have strengthened their cooperation through the Alliance of Sahel States, which was established to coordinate responses to shared political, economic and security challenges.
Libya’s southern territories are also strategically important because of their proximity to the Sahel. Weak border controls and the presence of competing armed groups have made the wider desert region vulnerable to trafficking and other cross-border criminal activities.
For authorities in eastern Libya, stronger relations with Niger could provide an opportunity to expand regional engagement and improve coordination with neighbouring countries.
For Niamey, cooperation with eastern Libya could create additional channels for addressing security concerns along its northern frontier.
Nevertheless, translating diplomatic commitments into effective border operations will require sustained coordination, resources and clear responsibilities between the participating institutions.
Turkey pushes for Libyan military reunification
The Niger-Libya agreement was announced shortly after Turkey hosted discussions involving military representatives from Libya’s eastern and western administrations.
The talks in Ankara reportedly focused on the possibility of bringing the rival military structures under a unified command.
A senior Turkish official said discussions had initially concentrated on military unification, with political reunification expected to be addressed at a later stage.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also indicated that the time had come to move towards reunifying Libya’s divided administrations.
Turkey’s involvement is notable because Ankara has maintained relations with both eastern and western Libyan authorities, despite previously providing strong support to the Tripoli-based government during the country’s conflict.
The efforts reflect continuing international interest in reducing Libya’s political divisions and establishing a more unified security structure.
What the agreement could mean for Niger and Libya
The strategic cooperation memorandum could create opportunities for closer diplomatic, security and economic engagement between Niger and eastern Libya.
For Niger, maintaining relations with both Libyan administrations may help protect its interests in a neighbouring country that remains important for trade, migration and regional security.
For eastern Libya, the agreement offers another opportunity to build relationships with governments in the Sahel and strengthen its diplomatic presence beyond the country’s borders.
However, the absence of publicly available details means it is too early to determine the agreement’s precise scope or how quickly it will be implemented.
The next important step will be whether both sides establish practical programmes, joint mechanisms and follow-up arrangements capable of turning the announcement into measurable cooperation.
For now, the agreement signals closer engagement between Niamey and the authorities in Benghazi at a time when political divisions in Libya and security challenges across the Sahel continue to shape regional relations.
