Niger talks Sahel’s security with Russia
Niger has defied US warnings and has joined forces with Russia to strengthen security in the Sahel, according to AFP.
A phone call on 26th March between ex-UN peace keeper and Niger’s military leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani and Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin detailed the alliance to combat terrorism in the Sahel.
“The leaders expressed determination to step up political dialogue and develop mutually beneficial cooperation in various spheres,” the Kremlin revealed.
A commitment to strengthen Niamey-Moscow relations was made in January as Niger hopes that Russia could be a solution to the decades of relentless extremist violence.
READ: Putin responds to Macron over Russian influence in Africa
Before the eviction of Niger’s pro-Western President, Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023, Niger was a front line ally to the West in battling the jihadist extremists.
However, since the military coup and Tchiani’s rise to power, Niamey has severed ties with most of its Western partners as these allies failed to terminate the terrorism within the Sahel.
Tchiani quickly annulled Niger’s March 2023 agreement with the US to allow 1,000 US soldiers and civilian contractors to operate throughout the country after a military government spokesperson criticised the intentions of the US.
Colonel Amadou Abdramane accused the US of trying to control Niger in its choice of allies and the “types of partnerships capable of truly helping them fight against terrorism.”
The US responded to the allegations and remained that they were only expressing concerns about Niger’s newly found relations with Russia and Iran.
On 21st March, the Pentagon’s assistant secretary of defence for international security affairs, Celeste Wallander revealed that the US wanted clarity in the termination of the military agreement and shared a desire for American troops to remain in Niger.
In a bid to reclaim control and relieve Niger from the pressing economic distress, Niger, alongside Burkina Faso and Mali, declared its want to leave the West African economic alliance, known as ECOWAS.
AFP
