Niger junta ends military cooperation with US “with immediate effect”

Описание: The Nigerien military junta canceled “with immediate effect” the defense agreement with the United States that allows a US military presence in Niger. The announcement on Saturday, March 16, 2024, came a day after a high-level, three-day visit by a delegation of senior US military officials led by Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee and commander of the US Africa Command General Michael Langley. While reading a statement on television, junta spokesman Colonel Amadou Abdramane mentioned that the “US delegation did not follow diplomatic protocol and that Niger was not informed about the composition of the delegation, the date of its arrival, or the agenda,” as stated by Reuters. As reported by Arab News, Abdramane also stated that “the government of Niger forcefully denounces the condescending attitude accompanied by the threat of retaliation from the head of the American delegation toward the Nigerien government and people.” According to Sputnik Africa, Abdramane declared that the US military presence in Niger is “illegal” and “violates all constitutional and democratic rules.” He added that the agreement was “unfair” and “unilaterally imposed” by the United States by a “simple verbal note” on July 6, 2012. As reported by Haberler, Abdramane stated that Niger regretted the “intention of the American delegation to deny the sovereign Nigerien people the right of choosing their partners and partnerships capable of truly helping them fight terrorism.” Around 1,100 US troops are stationed in Niger at two military bases, including the $100 million drone Air Base 201 in the city of Agadez, 920 kilometers northeast of the capital Niamey. Before the coup that toppled the government of President Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023, Niger was a staunch ally of the United States, which used Air Base 201 to launch attacks against Islamic State- and Al Qaeda-linked jihadists operating in the Sahel. After coming to power, the Nigerien junta canceled two security and defense partnerships with the EU and demanded the departure of French troops, which occurred in December. Also in December, the Nigerien junta signed a military agreement with Russia.