Niger has requested that Chinese oil companies reduce their expatriate workforce, particularly those who have been stationed in the country for more than four years, as part of a broader effort to gain greater control over its natural resources and boost local employment.
According to official letters, Oil Minister Sahabi Oumarou instructed the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and its local refinery partner SORAZ to begin terminating the contracts of long-serving foreign employees. The directive could impact dozens of workers and further strain ties between Niamey and Beijing.
While a May 21 letter to SORAZ hinted at some flexibility, allowing certain key personnel to remain based on need, a separate communication to CNPC on May 20 reflected a tougher stance. In that letter, Oumarou refused a request to meet with the company’s CEO and accused CNPC of violating local labor regulations.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has not responded to media inquiries on the issue.
This move comes two months after Niger expelled three Chinese oil executives over pay disparities between foreign and local staff, a decision that has heightened tensions. A source close to CNPC said the company has been seeking government dialogue since the incident, but if the new directive is enforced, many Chinese workers will be forced to return home.
Niger, under military rule since a coup in July 2023, has joined a growing number of West African nations attempting to rebalance foreign partnerships and reduce dependency on external control in strategic sectors such as energy and mining.