Niger Reopened Its Budget, and the Army Is One of Seven Reasons
Niamey has amended its own finance ordinance eight months into the year, adding about US$104 million and pointing the money at the defence and security forces. The post Niger Reopened Its Budget, and the Army Is One of Seven Reasons appeared first on The Rio Times .
Niger's budget was revised upward by 2% in 2026, reaching 2,980.54 billion CFA francs, equivalent to about US$5.3 billion at the August 21 exchange rate. The revision is primarily driven by security concerns, particularly the rising costs for the Defence and Security Forces. The government also cited the Middle East crisis, which raised international crude prices, impacting the budget.
Additionally, the revised budget reflects a simplified tax regime to boost economic recovery and the gold sector, with Niger declaring over 1.7 tonnes of gold in 2025, worth more than 109 billion CFA francs. The economy grew by 6.9% in 2025, with the IMF projecting 6.7% growth for 2026. Despite the modest increase in the budget, it signifies a significant shift in priorities for the Sahel's military government, focusing more on security while attempting to establish a mining tax base.
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