Niger’s National Council, Abdourahmane Tiani, reaffirms military ties with the newly re-elected president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, despite Western fears. The Moscow Kremlin revealed that both men discussed security concerns in the Sahel region over a phone call.
The security measure also cut across safeguarding the Homeland despite several warnings from the U.S. against Niger’s ties with Russia and Iran.
As stated by Kremlin, a report by the Russian news publication Sputnik says, “There was also an exchange of views on the situation in the Sahel region with an emphasis on coordinating actions in matters of ensuring security and combating terrorism.”
Following Niger Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine’s visit to Moscow in January, both Niger and Russia agreed to strengthen their military ties with a willingness to collaborate on political issues and other spheres.
Russia-Niger Relationship Spurs Western Fears
The military tie between the Russian and Niger government has instilled fear into the heart of the western region, the U.S. in particular.
Earlier this month, delegates from the United States of America led by Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee and General Michael Langley, commander of the U.S. Africa Command, visited Niger to address concerns about the country’s affiliation with Russia and Iran. In their discussion, the U.S. delegate raised several problems on the path Niger is currently on.
In response to this, Niger immediately took a bold action to terminate an agreement with the USA about stationing of around 1,000 US military personnel in Niger.
A report from Colonel Amadou Abdramane, the spokesperson for Niger’s junta, states that “The U.S. delegation did not observe diplomatic protocol and that he was not told of the mission’s makeup, arrival date, or agenda.”
He further said, “Niger regrets the intention of the American delegation to deny the sovereign Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and types of partnerships capable of truly helping them fight against terrorism,”
Hence, this resulted in the immediate withdrawal of a military agreement that permitted U.S. Department of Defense forces and civilian workers to operate on the soil of Niger.
