Niger, announced on Saturday that it was breaking off “with immediate effect” its military cooperation agreement with the United States.
By Emma Ogbuehi
In a move that came as a surprise to analysts, the military government of the Republic of Niger, announced on Saturday that it was breaking off “with immediate effect” its military cooperation agreement with the United States.
Agency Reports indicated that the declaration came just a day after a senior US delegation left Niger, following a three-day visit to renew contact with the military junta that ousted the president and moved closer to Russia.
The statement said the government had decided to “denounce with immediate effect” the agreement relating to US military and civilian employees of the US Department of Defense inside Niger.
It was read out Saturday evening on national television.
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US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Washington was aware of the statement, and that it came after “frank discussions … about our concerns” with the junta’s “trajectory.”
Miller said on X that the US was still in touch with the junta and would provide updates “as warranted.”
The Pentagon provided AFP with an identical statement.
The United States still stations some 1,000 troops in Niger at a desert drone base built at a cost of $100 million.
Movements there have been limited since the July 2023 coup and Washington has curbed assistance to the government.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid a rare visit to Niger a year ago in hopes of shoring up president Mohamed Bazoum, a stalwart ally in Western security efforts against jihadists.
Just four months later, the military deposed Bazoum and put him under house arrest.
The junta took a hard line against former colonial power France, forcing the withdrawal of French troops in place for nearly a decade.
Niger’s military had in the past worked closely with the United States.
But the junta has sought cooperation with Russia, while stopping short of the full-fledged embrace of Moscow by military-run neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso.
The announcement by Niger came few days after President Bola Tinubu, ordered the immediate re-opening of Nigeria’s land and air borders with the country.
According to a statement issued by his special adviser on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu also directed the immediate lifting of other sanctions against the country.
The statement, further explained that the President’s directives were in compliance with the resolution of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government during its last extraordinary meeting in Abuja.
He said: “President Bola Tinubu has directed the opening of Nigeria’s land and air borders with the Republic of Niger and the lifting of other sanctions against the country with immediate effect.
ECOWAS had recently lifted some economic sanctions it imposed on Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, following the military take over of the civilian administrations in the country. The three countries, had before the ECOWAS action, pulled out of the subregional body, alleging that it had been hijacked by imperialistic interests.
