Ali Lamine Zeine: Navigating Niger's Finances Amidst Political Transition

Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine was appointed Prime Minister and Minister of Finance by Niger’s military junta in August 2023. Le Premier Ministre Ali Lamine Zeine a été nommé Premier Ministre et Ministre des Finances par le gouvernement militaire du Niger en août 2023.

Today as Prime Minister he represents a military junta to the outside world, seeking to manage delicate relations with neighboring states, which are calling for detained President Bazoum’s restoration, as well as seeking to mitigate the effects of comprehensive regional sanctions imposed on Niger in July after the military’s coup and deliver some measure of government services to Niger’s long-suffering population. Aujourd'hui, en tant que Premier Ministre, il représente le gouvernement militaire à l'extérieur, cherchant à gérer les relations délicates avec les états voisins, qui réclament le rétablissement du Président Bazoum, détenu, ainsi qu'à atténuer les effets des sanctions régionales globales imposées au Niger en juillet après le coup d'État militaire et pourvoir une certaine mesure de services gouvernementaux à la population du Niger qui souffre depuis longtemps.

Niger is one of several states in the region that have seen military coups in the last two years and which now are stuck between managing a growing terrorist insurgency at home and balancing the demands of outside powers. Several high level Russian delegations have visited Niger recently with offers of military assistance, now cut off from Washington; as well as multiple high-level US visits seeking to maintain a platform for US intelligence collection in the country.


Location of Niger in West Africa

Background and Career

Just prior to his appointment he had served at the African Development Bank as its resident representative in Chad, Ivory Coast, and Gabon. An economist by training, he served as Niger’s Minister of Finance from 2003-2010.

Niger is a large country located in West Africa, with an area of 1,267,000 km2. It has a population estimated at 19.3 million inhabitants in 2016, 87.1% of which are young people under 35 and 52.1% of which are women. 80% of the population lives in rural areas.

Read also: The Ballads of Johnny Horton

At the crossroads of sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa, Niger is a multicultural country. Niger is part of ECOWAS and is also a member of the West African Economic Monetary Union (WAEMU).

The economy is highly vulnerable to harsh climatic conditions which make food insecurity a structural problem. In 2017, Niger was ranked 187th out of 188 countries on the UNDP's Human Development Index.


Topography of Niger

Economic Landscape

The Niger economy, which recorded a 5% growth rate in 2016, is dominated by the primary sector (agriculture (including livestock), mining (uranium), and informal trading activities) which contributed 39% of GDP.

This web page provides information in on the activities of the Office, views of the IMF staff, and the relations between Niger and the IMF. Link to 2022 Article IV Country report. (Country Report No. Mr. Rasmane Ouedraogo, Resident Representative, presented the latest April 2023 REO to the Minister of Finance, Ambassadors, trade unions, journalists and university students.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Mali on July 30, 2025. Series:Country Report No.

Read also: Correct Niger Pronunciation

We would like to bring to the notice of the general public that several variants of financial scam letters purporting to be sanctioned by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or authored by high ranking IMF officials are currently in circulation, and may appear on official letterhead containing the IMF logo. The scam letters instruct potential victims to contact the IMF for issuance of a “Certificate of International Capital Transfer” or other forms of approval, to enable them receives large sums of monies as beneficiaries.

The Departmental African Paper Series covers research on sub-Saharan Africa conducted by International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff, particularly on issues of broad regional or cross-country interest.

Nigerien Government Key Officials

Here's a list of key government officials in Niger:

TitleName
Prime Min. and Min. of Economy & FinanceAli Mahaman Lamine ZEINE
Min. of State and Min. of National DefenseSalifou MODY
Min. of State and Min. of the Interior, Public Security & Territorial AdministrationMohamed TOUMBA Boubacar
Min. of Agriculture & LivestockMahaman Elhadj OUSMANE
Min. of Commerce & IndustrySeydou ASMAN
Min. of Communication, Postal & Digital EconomySidi Mohamed RALIOU
Min. of EnergyAmadou HAOUA
Min. of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation & Nigeriens AbroadBakary Yaou SANGARE
Min. of Higher Education, Research & Technological InnovationMahamadou SAIDOU
Min. of Humanitarian Action & Disaster ManagementAissa LAWAN
Min. of Hydraulics, Sanitation & the EnvironmentMaizama ABDOULAYE, Col.
Min. of Justice & Human Rights, Keeper of SealsAlio DAOUDA
Min. of MinesOusmane ABACHI, Col.
Min. of National Education, Literacy, Vocational Education & Promotion of National LanguagesElizabeth CHERIF, Dr.
Min. of PetroleumMahamane Moustapha BARKE
Min. of Public Health, Population & Social AffairsGarba HAKIMI, Dr. Col. Maj.
Min. of Public Works & EmploymentAissatou ABDOULAYE
Min. of Tourism & CraftsmanshipGuichen Agaichata ATTA
Min. of Transport & EquipmentSalissou MAHAMAN, Col.
Min. of Urban Planning & HousingSalissou Sahirou ADAMO
Min. of Youth & SportsAbdourahamane AMADOU, Col. Maj.
Min. Delegate to the Prime Minister in Charge of FinanceMoumouni Boubacar SAIDOU
Min. to the President's OfficeRhissa Ag BOULA

Last Updated: 6/17/2025

Niger’s Sanctions Trigger Economic Hardships for Locals

Read also: The Common Black Ant

Popular articles:

tags: