France, July 27 -- Three years after Niger's military coup, insecurity has worsened and civic freedoms have been sharply restricted, despite strong economic growth driven by oil, according to former Nigerien ambassador Kiari Liman-Tinguiri.

President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown on 26 July 2023 and remains detained in Niamey with his wife. Niger has since been governed by the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani.

Tiani was formally sworn in last year as president for a renewable five-year term, while political parties have been dissolved and the authorities have tightened their control over the media and civil society.

Liman-Tinguiri, an economist who served as Niger's ambassador ...