Niger: Military government of Niger has announced that it is terminating the agreement with the United States, days after high-level talks with US diplomatic and military officials.
The terminated deal allowed US military personnel and civilian staff from the Department of Defence to operate in Niger. The termination was announced by Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane, spokesman for the Niger military.
“The government of Niger, taking into account the aspirations and interests of its people, decides with full responsibility to denounce with immediate effect the agreement relating to the status of military personnel of the United States and civilian employees of the American Department of Defence in the territory of the Republic of Niger,” Abdramane stated.
According to Niger’s military spokesman, an accord signed between the two countries in 2012 was imposed on Niger. It was a violation of the ‘constitutional and democratic rules’ of the West African country’s sovereignty.
Abdramane said that, “This agreement is not only profoundly unfair in its substance but it also does not meet the aspirations and interests of the Nigerien people.” Previously, Niger was an important regional ally of the US. The ties between Niger and the US deteriorated since a military junta took power in July 2023, which the US government designated as a coup.
Senior Pentagon officials believe that it is vital to maintain a presence in Niger to address terrorism in the region. In October, the Pentagon proclaimed that it was considering the effect of this transition on the 1,000 US squads still stationed in the country.
Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane indicted the US delegation for not following diplomatic practices during their visit. Both parties discussed military transition and cooperation.
Abdramane remarked that, “The government of Niger regrets the desire of the American delegation to deny the Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and the types of partnerships capable of helping them truly fight against terrorists.”
“Niger forcefully denounces the condescending attitude of the US. This attitude is likely to undermine the quality of our centuries-old relations and undermine the trust between our two governments,” the military representative added.
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