Niger Junta Bans French Aid Group Acted

Niger's military junta has revoked the operating licenses of the French NGO Acted and the local organization Action for Well-Being (APBE), intensifying the country's shift away from Western partnerships towards Russia for security. The Ministry of the Interior issued the decree without providing any reasons for this decision, which follows the junta's coup last year that led to the expulsion of French troops and the ambassador. Acted, which has been active in Niger since 2010, primarily assisted communities affected by jihadist violence and natural disasters, helping over a million people. The junta's actions reflect a broader trend in the Sahel region, where several military takeovers have occurred amid rising extremist violence. The U.S. also withdrew its forces from Niger in September after the junta ended an operational agreement. Previously, Niger was viewed as the West's last stronghold in the region against extremist threats linked to groups like al-Qaida and the Islamic State.