Niger has expelled three Chinese oil executives amid a dispute over salary disparities between expatriate staff and lower-paid local workers, according to Oil Minister Sahabi Oumarou.
“We are not satisfied with the way in which wealth is distributed between the state of Niger and the partner,” Oumarou said on Wednesday.
He explained that, on average, a Chinese employee in Niger earned $8,678 per month last year, while a Nigerien employee in the same position received only $1,200.
The three Chinese officials expelled last week, who were notified of their departure order on Wednesday, held key positions at China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), the West African Oil Pipeline Company (WAPCo), and the joint venture oil refinery SORAZ.
By Friday, they had already departed, according to a source close to the government.
Niger moves to curb foreign dominance
Oumarou also pointed out that expatriates dominated managerial positions, while Nigeriens were largely assigned lower-level roles as operators or labourers.
Despite several attempts to address the issue, the disparities remained unresolved, ultimately leading to the expulsions. “We are still always open to discussions,” he added.
The development is part of a broader effort by West African military regimes, including Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, to assert greater control over their natural resources and reduce foreign dominance.
For instance, since taking power, the Nigerien military government has scrapped defence agreements with the U.S. and France and seized control of the French nuclear fuels company Orano’s Somair uranium mine.
