Niger’s transitional government has imposed a blanket ban on all protests related to oil management, citing vague “public security” concerns. The move comes as the country grapples with an escalating fuel shortage that has left long queues at gas stations across Niamey.

The ban, announced by the Ministry of Interior under General Mohamed Toumba, specifically targets planned marches and sit-ins by the Citizens’ Collective for National Salvation. The group had aimed to demand transparency in Agadem oil field operations and accountability for petroleum revenue allocation. However, authorities have deemed such discussions off-limits, reinforcing the perception of oil as a government-controlled domain shielded from public scrutiny.

Systemic breakdowns fuel the crisis

The fuel shortage—paradoxical for an oil-producing nation—stems from deep-rooted failures in Niger’s hydrocarbon sector. Key structural and governance issues include:

• Zinder refinery’s operational paralysis: The SORAZ refinery, plagued by outdated infrastructure and chronic breakdowns, lacks the capacity to meet domestic fuel demand. This forces the National Petroleum Products Company (Sonidep) to rely heavily on costly imports to avert shortages.
• Collapse of informal fuel trade: For years, Nigerians benefited from subsidized Nigerian fuel smuggled across the border to ease supply gaps. The abrupt removal of subsidies in Nigeria triggered a price surge, cutting off this lifeline and exposing Niger’s fragile supply chain.
• Logistical gridlock and decaying infrastructure: Transporting fuel from Zinder to urban centers depends on a shrinking fleet of aging tanker trucks navigating crumbling roads, exacerbating delivery delays and shortages.
• Sonidep’s governance meltdown: Internal strife at Sonidep has intensified, highlighted by the abrupt dismissal of its former CEO by General Abdourahamane Tiani. The move underscores rising tensions over opaque stock tracking and revenue management.
• Geopolitical deadlocks: Diplomatic tensions with neighboring states and stalled negotiations over the Agadem-Sèmè-Kpodji pipeline have further delayed financial benefits from oil exports.

Authorities tighten control to mask failures

Facing public backlash, the government has rolled out restrictive measures instead of addressing root causes:

• Nighttime fuel sales bans: Since October 19, gas stations are prohibited from operating between 9 PM and 6 AM, except for designated emergency services.
• Export freeze: Implemented on October 12, this stopgap measure restricts fuel exports to prioritize domestic supply—yet another sign of crisis management rather than systemic reform.

By suppressing public dissent and locking down the conversation around energy sovereignty, officials appear more focused on silencing criticism than resolving the paradox of a fuel-rich nation drowning in shortages.

By Yacouba Ouédraogo — Journalist