The International Monetary Fund said Thursday it had reached a preliminary agreement with Niger that should see the west African nation receive around $203 million over three years to support its economic reforms. Preliminary agreement on the 38-month Extended Credit Facility was reached during talks in Niamey and must be approved by the IMF's Executive Board. The IMF said the current ECF-supported program has helped Niger preserve macroeconomic stability despite being faced with exceptional economic shocks. [...]