Highlights: Niger: presidential decree repeals controls on defense spending. The purchase of any military equipment, services or work carried out for the benefit of the army, but also the presidency, are no longer subject to legislation on public procurement and public accounting. These expenses are also exempt from taxes, until the end of the transition period, indicates the decree consulted by RFI. “ When you deal with a private military company, what we call mercenaries, it’s more interesting when there are fewer traces, fewer controls,” says a researcher.

According to a decree from the CNSP presidency dated February 23, to which RFI was able to access on Sunday, defense spending will no longer be subject to controls.

Niger: presidential decree repeals controls on defense spending

According to a decree from the CNSP presidency dated February 23, to which RFI was able to access on Sunday, defense spending will no longer be subject to controls.

A soldier at the Ouallam military base, Niger, July 15, 2022 (Illustrative image).

AFP - BERTRAND GUAY

By: David Baché

The purchase of any military equipment, services or work carried out for the benefit of the army, but also the presidency, are no longer subject to legislation on public procurement and public accounting.

These expenses are also exempt from taxes, until the end of the transition period, indicates the decree consulted by RFI.

“

This type of legislation [on accounting and public procurement, Editor's note] serves to clean up public spending

, explains Arthur Banga, researcher specializing in defense and armaments issues at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny University in Abidjan,

because that for a long time, the defense secrecy used for the acquisition of weapons was precisely the occasion for embezzlement.
Niger
experienced this problem,

Mali

too
.
So more and more, we are trying to control what happens in the purchase of material equipment.
Today, Niger assumes, through this decision, that this step is no longer worth it

.”

A decision that the need for the fight against terrorism, however, seems to justify: “

This can be explained by the urgency of the moment,” continues Arthur Banga, “we estimate that we are gaining time to reinforce the troops by acquiring more quickly and with less of military equipment procedures.
But on the other hand, this opens the door to all the opacity that we can have on transactions, on financial control, but also on the control of the effectiveness of the materials that will be acquired

Should we make a link between this decision by decree of the CNSP presidency and the strengthening of military cooperation with Russia

and

the option of possible recourse to the Wagner group?

“

When you deal with a private military company, what we call mercenaries, it’s more interesting when there are fewer traces, fewer controls,”

replies the researcher.

So that could be a reason.
But let's not forget the opportunity, for those who will be in the arms purchasing channels, to enrich themselves at the expense of the Nigerien taxpayer

Niger: presidential decree repeals controls on defense spending

Niger: presidential decree repeals controls on defense spending

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