The ruling military junta cuts military cooperation with the United States
The spokesman for the military junta in Niger, Colonel Amadou Abdel Rahman, said today, Saturday, that the ruling military junta in Niger has ended a military agreement that allows the presence of military personnel and civilians from the US Department of Defense on its territory. This move comes after a visit by US officials this week.
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“The American presence in the territory of the Republic of Niger is illegal.” After the French, the American army could in turn be expelled from Niger. On Saturday, the ruling generals' regime in Niamey denounced “with immediate effect” the military cooperation agreement signed with the United States in 2012, stressing that the American presence “violates all constitutional and democratic rules.”
After coming to power through a coup on July 26, 2023, the Niamey regime denounced military cooperation agreements with France and the last French soldiers left Niger at the end of December.
After the coup that overthrew elected President Mohamed Bazoum, Washington suspended its cooperation with Niger.
But the United States has about 1,100 soldiers participating in the fight against jihadists in the country and has a large drone base in Agadez (north).
In December, they expressed their willingness to resume this cooperation with conditions.
On Saturday evening, Colonel Amadou Abderrahmane, the regime’s spokesman, indicated that the Niger government, “taking into account the aspirations and interests of its people,” decided “with all responsibility to immediately denounce the agreement regarding the status of the American military.” US Department of Defense personnel and civilian employees in Niger Region.
In a press statement, broadcast on national television, Amadou Abderrahmane stressed that the US military presence is “illegal” and “violates all constitutional and democratic rules.”
According to Niamey, this “unfair” agreement was “unilaterally imposed” by the United States, via a “simple note verbale” on July 6, 2012.
This move comes after a three-day visit by a US delegation headed by Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly V.
During this three-day visit, Molly V was unable to meet the head of the military regime, Abdurrahmane Tiani, according to a Nigerian government source.
Amadou Abdel Rahman explained on Saturday that “the arrival of the American delegation did not respect diplomatic practices,” stressing that the American government informed Niamey “unilaterally” of the date of its arrival and the composition of its delegation.
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“Condescending attitude”
He also denounced Molly's “condescending attitude,” an “attitude that would undermine the nature” of relations between the two countries, he said.
This delegation, headed by Molly Fee, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, which arrived in Niamey on Tuesday, was initially scheduled to spend two days there, but decided to extend its stay, according to the Nigerien government source.
However, I was able to meet the military-appointed Prime Minister, Ali Mehmane Lamin Zain, twice.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told
He added on the same social network that the United States remains in contact with the military junta and will provide new information “if necessary.”
We are aware of the statement issued by the CNSP in Niger, which follows frank discussions at senior levels in Niamey this week about our concerns about the course of the CNSP. We are in contact with the CNSP and will provide further updates as necessary.
– Matthew Miller (@StateDeptSpox) March 17, 2024
The Pentagon provided AFP with a similar statement.
On Saturday evening, Colonel Abderrahmane also spoke of a return to constitutional order in this country that has moved closer to its neighbors Burkina Faso and Mali – which are also ruled by the military – but also to countries such as Iran or Russia.
He announced that “the government of Niger has reaffirmed its firm desire to organize a return to normal constitutional life as soon as possible,” stressing that this was a “solemn commitment” from the president of the transitional period, “as he expressed it in his address to the nation on August 19.”
During this message, General Tiani then mentioned a maximum transition period of three years, and that its duration would be determined through the “national dialogue.”
Since the coup, Niger has notably withdrawn – like Burkina and Mali – from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has imposed heavy sanctions on it.
At the end of February, the Economic Community of West African States decided to lift a large part of these sanctions.
Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali announced the creation of a joint force to fight jihadists who regularly strike their three countries.
With AFP and Reuters
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