Niger this week announced its withdrawal from a military cooperation agreement with the European Union, and the landlocked West African country also revoked its permission for the deployment of an EU mission in Niamey, Niger’s capital.
Niger’s Foreign Ministry said in a Dec. 4 statement that it had revoked all “privileges and immunities” granted under the EU Military Partnership Mission, which began in February.
Therefore, the government no longer has any “legal obligation” relating to the partnership, the foreign ministry stated.
In another blow to Niger’s relations with Europe, the government also announced the cancellation of an 11-year-old “capacity-building” initiative.
The EU Civilian Capacity-Building Mission was launched in 2012 with the stated aim of bolstering Niger’s domestic security and enhancing its ability to deal with external threats.
The moves come four months after President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted in a military coup. Since then, Niger has been run by a military junta that has had an increasingly contentious relationship with the West, especially France.
In late July, a group of Nigerien military officers announced the removal of Mr. Bazoum.
Led by army Gen. Abdourahmane Tiani, coup leaders claimed that they had seized power to end “the deteriorating security situation and bad governance.”
From the outset, Western powers—along with the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)—condemned the coup and have continued to call for Mr. Bazoum’s reinstatement.
A 15-country regional bloc, ECOWAS has said that it’s ready to send troops to Niger to “restore constitutional order” if diplomatic efforts fail.
Niger, along with Mali and Burkina Faso (both of which support Niger’s ruling junta), have accused ECOWAS of serving a Western agenda.
Before the coup, Niger was seen as the West’s last remaining “security partner” in Africa’s Sahel region, which is home to a number of Islamic extremist groups.
Moscow Moves In
On the same day that Niger announced its withdrawal from the EU initiatives, a high-level Russian delegation visited for talks with the country’s military leadership.Led by Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, members of the Russian delegation met with Gen. Tiani and Nigerien Defense Minister Salifou Modi.
According to a statement released by Niger’s Defense Ministry, the two sides discussed “the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries [Niger and Russia] in the field of defense.”
Niger’s ANP news agency later reported that Mr. Yevkurov and Mr. Modi had signed a joint security agreement, the details of which remain unclear.
Niger currently has no formal relations with Moscow. Nor does Russia maintain any military personnel—officially at least—in the West African country.
Moscow’s overtures appear set to come at the expense of France, West Africa’s former colonial ruler.
In September, Niger’s military government expelled the French ambassador after a weeks-long diplomatic standoff. Niamey also demanded the departure of 1,500 French troops deployed in the country with the ostensible mandate of fighting “extremists.”
In October, French troops began leaving the country. According to Paris, the military withdrawal will be completed by year’s end.
French forces were also expelled from neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso following recent military coups in those countries.
On Dec. 5, Niger and Mali both revoked two cooperation treaties with Paris. In a joint statement, they attributed the move to what they described as France’s “persistently hostile attitude.”
Notably, the Russian delegation led by Mr. Yevkurov also reportedly visited Mali.
When asked about the situation in Niger—and the Russian delegation’s visit—a U.S. State Department spokesman appeared to play down Washington’s concern.
“Obviously, this is a country that had a coup d’etat earlier this year,” he said at a Dec. 4 press briefing.
Coups Abound
Recent years have seen a spate of military coups in West and Central African countries. Along with Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, these have also included Gabon, Chad, and Guinea.Last month, authorities in Sierra Leone said a string of attacks in the country’s capital—which left more than 20 dead—were part of a failed attempt to overthrow the government.
