In Niger’s corridors of power, a high-stakes showdown is unfolding over a security fund that transcends its military purpose. At the epicenter of this battle lies the Command of Protection and Development Forces (CFPD), a controversial initiative backed by General Salifou Mody, spearheaded under CNSP leader Abdourahamane Tiani, and fiercely contested by former Finance Minister and Prime Minister Lamine Zeine. At stake? A monthly war chest of 1.8 billion West African CFA francs.
The birth of a strategic powerhouse
On May 9, 2024, General Abdourahamane Tiani signed Decree No. 2024-309/P/CNSP/MDN, establishing the CFPD with a clear mission: safeguarding Niger’s critical infrastructure. The mandate covers oil fields, mining sites, pipelines, and strategic transit corridors—sectors vital to national stability and economic sovereignty. Simultaneously, the government authorized the recruitment of 10,000 new soldiers in 2024, further consolidating its security apparatus.
The decree’s Article 28 introduced a Daily Standby Allowance (PUA) of at least 12,000 FCFA per soldier, alongside mandatory financial contributions from private sector entities operating in these high-risk zones. With a projected force of 5,000 personnel, the math is staggering:
- Daily cost: 5,000 soldiers × 12,000 FCFA = 60 million FCFA
- Monthly cost (30 days): 1.8 billion FCFA
- Annual cost: 21.9 billion FCFA
This financial colossus has become the fulcrum of a power struggle that now defines Niger’s political landscape.
A three-way tug of war
The CFPD was pushed forward by General Salifou Mody, Niger’s Defense Minister, and ultimately authorized by Tiani. Yet the moment the ink dried on the decree, Tiani ordered Minister of Finance Lamine Zeine to freeze all financial disbursements linked to the fund. The result? A weapon created—but rendered inoperable. Mody, the architect of the CFPD, found himself at the mercy of a political blockade.
The conflict escalated into a full-blown institutional crisis. Zeine, already wielding dual roles as Prime Minister and Finance Minister, became the primary obstruction. His resistance wasn’t just bureaucratic—it was strategic. By mid-2026, the power realignment reached its climax: Zeine was stripped of the Finance portfolio, then removed from the premiership entirely. The CFPD controversy had eroded trust among the regime’s core leaders.
Mody’s consolidation of power
With Zeine sidelined, General Mody seized the initiative. He secured the prime ministership and absorbed the Defense portfolio, centralizing control over defense, military operations, and economic policy. This move wasn’t just about authority—it was about ensuring the CFPD’s financial lifeline would flow through him.
The stakes were clear: whoever controlled the 1.8 billion FCFA monthly fund would dominate Niger’s strategic agenda.
Damolleydi: The mobilization that never was
Facing CFPD paralysis, the government launched Operation Damolleydi, a national volunteer mobilization campaign aimed at bolstering local security structures. General Mody was appointed head of the Damolleydi Committee, sidelining Interior Minister General Mohamed Toumba. Yet despite public fanfare, the initiative stalled under Mody’s stewardship. Local militia groups, bypassing central coordination, assumed de facto control of security in rural zones.
Money, men, and missions: The trifecta of control
The CFPD’s financial engine runs on three interdependent pillars:
- Command: The authority to deploy troops, assign personnel, and manage operational chains
- Missions: The power to define which sites warrant protection and set defense priorities
- Money: The control over corporate contributions and the distribution of the 1.8 billion FCFA monthly fund
Article 28 of the decree codifies this financial mechanism, linking state security to private sector obligations. Each month, companies operating in strategic sectors—whether mining, oil, or logistics—are billed for their share of the fund. The result is a closed financial circuit: money flows in from private actors, is controlled by state institutions, and is deployed at the discretion of the power center.
The endgame: Who holds the keys?
Beyond the rivalry between Tiani, Mody, and Zeine, this battle is ultimately about who governs Niger. The winner will not only control the CFPD’s financial engine but will also command the men, the missions, and the narrative of national security. Every contract signed, every soldier deployed, and every corporate contribution paid reinforces the victor’s grip on the state’s levers.
The 1.8 billion FCFA monthly fund is more than a budget line—it is the currency of power in a regime where loyalty is measured in francs and influence is won in zeros.