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The military regime in Niger refused to host two European Union (EU) security and defense missions in the country. In the meantime, the Western African country has rolled out a red carpet for the Russian delegation to Niamey
The military regime in Niger refused to host two European Union (EU) security and defense missions in the country. In the meantime, the Western African country has rolled out a red carpet for the Russian delegation to Niamey.
The Russian delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Defense arrived in Niamey to discuss with the military authorities, which is billed as the first official visit by a member of the Russian government to this country since the July 26 coup. The coup has disrupted diplomatic relations between Niger and its international partners.
The Russian delegation, led by the Deputy Minister of Defense, Colonel-General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, was received by the head of the Nigerian military regime, General Abdourahamane Tiani. The two parties signed documents as part of the strengthening of their military cooperation.
After Mali last year, Niger and Burkina recently announced their departure from the anti-jihadist organization G5 Sahel. The decision took effect on November 29, nine years after the creation of the organization whose remaining members are Mauritania and Chad. G5 Sahel was largely financed by the European Union, to act against the t jihadist violence. As reported by www.trendsnafrica.com, in September this year, Niger, Burkina, and Mali created the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to strengthen their cooperation.
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The Niger’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a press release the denunciation of the agreement entered into by the State of Niger with the European Union relating to the European civilian mission “EUCAP Sahel Niger”, active since 2012. This mission is based in Niamey and says it has 120 Europeans and supports “internal security forces, the Nigerien authorities as well as non-governmental actors”. The ministry also declared the “withdrawal by the State of Niger of the consent granted for the deployment of an EU military partnership mission” in Niger named “EUMPM”. This mission was launched in February “at the request of the Nigerien authorities”, to “support the country in its fight against armed terrorist groups”, according to the EU Council website.
