Multilateralism Undone? Lessons from EU External Migration Policy in Niger

This article examines the collapse of multilateral migration governance in Niger following the 2023 military coup and the broader implications for European Union (EU) external migration policy in the Sahel. Once a linchpin in EU strategies to externalize border control, Niger was the focus of extensive development aid, legal reforms, and security cooperation aimed at deterring irregular migration to Europe. These efforts, however, largely failed to achieve their objectives and generated local resistance, culminating in the annulment of key legislation and the breakdown of EU–Niger cooperation. Drawing on interviews with international officials, as well as policy documents, the article traces the evolution of EU interventions in Niger – from the deployment of the EU Capacity Building Mission to the use of the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa as a tool for ‘containment development’. It argues that in place of structured, multilateral frameworks, a fragmented system of ad hoc governance is emerging, led by international organizations and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) operating outside traditional state partnerships. This shift reflects a broader global trend toward informal, network-based governance and raises urgent questions about the accountability, sustainability, and legitimacy of EU migration policy in a multipolar world.