Date of publication:
09/02/2026
Niger (the)
Do domestic laws and policies provide for people to enter the country for the purpose of seeking asylum?
Assessment by population
Analysis
Niger adopted Ordinance No. 2025-02 of 13 January 2025 on the entry and stay of foreigners in Niger.
Considering the points mentioned above, Ordinance No. 2025-02 reflects respect for the principles of non-refoulement and non-penalization for irregular entry of people in need of international protection. According to Article 13:
“Certain categories of foreign nationals, under the conditions defined by international conventions and national laws, who benefit from particular or specific protection, may not be subjected to refusal of entry or refoulement at the border.”
The Ordinance is therefore consistent with Article 33 of the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, which provides that:
“No Contracting State shall expel or return (‘refouler’) a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his or her life or freedom would be threatened on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.”
Related provisions of domestic law or policy
Law No. 97-016 of 20 June 1997 on the Status of Refugees
- Year: 1997
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Asylum, Education, Freedom of movement, Health, Housing, land & property, Liberty & security of person, Nationality, Integration & Public Affairs, Social protection, Work & Workplace rights, Family life, Documentation
- Link to external source: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4a1ff81a2.html
Legal provision
Article 6 - Non-refoulement
Les demandeurs et les bénéficiaires du Statut des Réfugiés ne peuvent être expulsés, refoulés ou extradés du territoire nigérien que pour des raisons de sécurité nationale ou d'ordre public. Aucun réfugié ne peut être expulsé, refoulé, extradé sur des frontières d'un territoire où sa vie et/ou sa liberté seraient menacées en raison de sa race, de sa religion, de sa nationalité, de son appartenance à un certain groupe social ou de ses opinions politiques. Au sens de la présente loi, le terme « frontière » s'entend des frontières terrestres, ports, aéroports d'entrée ou limites des eaux territoriales.