After having requested the departure of the 1,500 French soldiers present in Niger, the new authorities in Niamey, resulting from the coup d’état of July 26 against the deposed president Mohamed Bazoum, now want to renegotiate the military agreements with the other countries which have forces stationed on Nigerien soil. If Niamey wants to renegotiate, this does not formally close the door to maintaining this presence of foreign troops.
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In a note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Niamey addressed to diplomatic missions accredited to Niger, the country indicates that it “ will carry out a review of all agreements signed in the past with all partners “. This without mentioning the countries which have soldiers stationed in Niger.
The United States and Germany have already announced of their wish to see their troops remainnumbering 1,300 and 100, respectively.
Last week, the German Defense Minister was in Niamey. He had in fact wanted his 100 soldiers, based in Tillia in the north of the Tahoua region, to stay to continue training the Nigerien special forces.
The Belgians, Italians and other European states also have soldiers in Niger as part of the strength of the European Union EUCAP Sahel.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Niger, a draft memorandum of understanding will be submitted to them for “ breathe new life into bilateral cooperation “. From the coming to power of the National Council for the Protection of the Fatherland (CNSP), the new authorities say they are resolutely committed to asserting the sovereignty of the country and defending its interests.
Read alsoWithdrawal of French soldiers from Niger: review of three months of a complex disengagement