The junta in Niger Republic Saturday announced the immediate termination of its military cooperation agreement with the United States.
This decision came shortly after a senior US delegation concluded a three-day visit to Niger and amidst the country’s shift towards closer ties with Russia, following the ousting of the president by a military junta.
The Nigerien government announced its immediate denouncement of the agreement concerning US military and civilian employees of the US Department of Defense within Niger. This statement, delivered on national television, comes amid ongoing tensions following the July 2023 coup. Despite the presence of approximately 1,000 US troops stationed in Niger at a desert drone base, movements have been restricted, and Washington has reduced assistance to the government in response to the coup.
READ ALSO: NCC raises awareness on complexity of regulating AI deployment
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Niger a year ago to support President Mohamed Bazoum, a key ally in Western efforts against jihadists. However, just four months later, Bazoum was ousted by the military and placed under house arrest.
The junta’s actions included taking a tough stance against former colonial power France, leading to the withdrawal of French troops who had been stationed there for nearly a decade.
While Niger’s military had previously collaborated closely with the United States, the junta has now pursued cooperation with Russia, although it has not fully aligned itself with Moscow like its military-led counterparts in Mali and Burkina Faso.
Credible news.ng
