Niger has expelled several Chinese executives affiliated with three major oil companies operating in the country, accusing them of violating key provisions of a recently amended mining code aimed at safeguarding national interests, local media reported on Sunday.
Executives from China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Zinder Refining Company, and the West African Gas Pipeline Company were ordered to leave the country after authorities determined that the firms had failed to comply with legal obligations requiring fair labor practices and stronger support for local economic participation.
According to government officials, the companies did not implement equitable salary structures for local workers, neglected to meet quotas for hiring Nigerien subcontractors, and failed to prioritize local suppliers in procurement contracts. They also reportedly did not provide adequate training or career development opportunities for Nigerien staff, nor did they engage in meaningful technology transfer, a cornerstone of the revised mining legislation passed in 2024.
“We simply ask the companies to pick a Nigerien subcontractor when possible, and that a majority of the subcontractors shouldn’t be Chinese,” said Ibrahim Hamidou, head of communications for the office of Niger’s prime minister.
The 2024 amendment to Niger’s mining code was introduced to maximize local benefit from the country’s vast natural resources, amid rising public pressure to ensure that foreign investment translates into sustainable development and job creation for Nigeriens.
In a related move, Nigerien authorities have also revoked the operating license of the Soluxe Hotel Niamey, a Chinese-managed property in the capital. The government cited allegations of discriminatory hiring practices, unauthorized construction work, and the falsification of tourism tax records as grounds for the closure.
The Chinese embassy in Niamey has not yet issued a formal response to the expulsions or the license revocation.
China has been one of Niger’s largest economic partners in recent years, particularly in the oil, energy, and infrastructure sectors. However, tensions have surfaced as the West African nation’s new military-led government pushes for greater transparency, local participation, and sovereignty over its natural resources following the coup in July 2023.
Analysts say the latest decisions could signal a more assertive stance by Niamey in regulating foreign investment, as the country seeks to strike a balance between attracting external capital and defending national interests.
