Assessment: Niger may renew ties with Israel

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Niger, one of the most backward countries in the world, may renew ties with Israel, if the US administration helps.
This is the assessment in the Ministry of Intelligence, following the results of the elections held in the country last month, in which Muhammad Bazum, who advocates a pro-Western approach, won. The Ministry of Intelligence believes that a push from the administration is critical to renewing ties between the countries.
It will be recalled that Niger twice severed ties with Israel, following the Yom Kippur War in 1973 and in the midst of the second intifada in 2002. Since then, no real efforts have been made to renew ties, primarily because Niger has a very weak economy. , And also because the Muslim state is plagued by terrorism at such a level that it will endanger the lives of every Israeli who visits it.

However, the intelligence ministry has identified two potential benefits from establishing links. One is to improve Niger’s hostile votes in international forums. The second consideration is that Niger is one of the global uranium suppliers – a major export industry of the poor country. Israel’s ties with the state could influence it to refrain from selling the critical quarry for the development of atomic bombs to countries hostile to Israel, the study said.

Niger ranks last in the human capital development index and among the first places in the poverty index. According to the authors of the document, the potential for business cooperation between Israel and Niger is low, and it is possible to divert international funding for cooperation in areas such as water, energy, agriculture, education and health.

Despite the many restrictions, Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen tells Israel Today that Israel has an interest in renewing ties with Niger. “Establishing relations between Israel and Muslim countries in Africa is a move that will contribute to both sides, both bilaterally and in terms of regional stability,” Cohen said.

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