Nigerien leader Abdourahamane Tiani has called on the country’s judiciary to take a more active role in defending state interests, including challenging legal cases against Niger and recovering funds awarded to the country through international court rulings.
Speaking on Thursday, October 22, at the opening of the 2026-2027 judicial year in Niamey, Tiani urged legal professionals to protect Niger’s interests in domestic and international proceedings and defend its sovereignty in international legal forums, in line with the United Nations Charter.
He also called on the judiciary to challenge cases he considers unjustly brought against Niger and help secure the enforcement of international rulings in the country’s favour.
The ceremony, held under the theme “The Role of Justice in Affirming National Sovereignty,” was attended by Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, government officials, judicial representatives and delegations from Burkina Faso and Mali, Niger’s partners in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) Confederation.
Tiani also called for greater resources for the justice system and improved access to justice. He urged the judiciary and executive to prioritise national interests over ideological, partisan and professional rivalries.
