Niger's military government has expelled three Chinese officials from the oil sector, in a move that reflects broader efforts by West African military regimes to assert greater control over their natural resources. The officials, who hold key positions at the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), the West African Oil Pipeline Company (WAPCo), and the joint venture oil refinery SORAZ, were notified of their departure order on Wednesday and had already departed by Friday, according to a source close to the government.

The expulsion is reportedly due to disputes over local staff wages and delays in project execution. This move is part of a larger trend in West Africa, where military governments are seeking to exert greater control over their natural resources. In 2023, Niger signed a $400 million memorandum of understanding with CNPC related to crude oil sales from the Agadem oilfield. However, recent actions by the junta signal a shift in the country's approach to foreign investments in its resources.

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. This move is seen as a bid to assert greater control over the country's natural resources and increase its share of resource profits. In a separate move, Niger's tourism ministry last week revoked the license of the Chinese-operated Soluxe International hotel, accusing it of "discriminatory practices" and fiscal irregularities.

Similar moves have been seen in Mali and Burkina Faso, where military governments have used legal disputes to strengthen control over key resources such as gold. In January, Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold temporarily halted operations at its Loulo-Gounkoto complex in Mali after the Malian government seized gold stocks from its site. Like Niger, the move is part of the government's efforts to assert greater control over the mining sector and increase its share of resource profits.

The trend of West African military governments asserting control over their natural resources is likely to continue, with implications for foreign investors and the global energy market. As these countries seek to exert greater control over their resources, it remains to be seen how this will impact the global energy landscape and the relationships between these countries and foreign investors.

In the context of the global energy market, this move is significant, as West Africa is a key region for oil and gas production. The actions of Niger and other West African military governments will likely have far-reaching implications for the energy sector, as they seek to assert greater control over their natural resources and increase their share of resource profits.

As the global energy landscape continues to evolve, it will be important to monitor the actions of West African military governments and their impact on the energy sector. With the global demand for energy resources continuing to grow, the actions of these governments will play a critical role in shaping the future of the energy market.