Niger ends 2 EU security missions
In the aftermath of the July coup that ousted elected president Mohamed Bazoum, the military regime in Niger declared the termination of two European Union (EU) security and defense missions on Monday.
The Nigerien Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed the denunciation of the agreement related to the European civilian mission “EUCAP Sahel Niger,” which has been active since 2012, supporting internal security forces and authorities with 120 European personnel.
Simultaneously, the state of Niger withdrew its consent for the deployment of the EU military partnership mission “EUMPM,” initiated in February to combat armed terrorist groups. With ties to Western partners severed, the military regime is actively seeking new alliances, evident in their welcome of a Russian delegation led by Deputy Minister of Defense Colonel-General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov to Niamey.
This marks the first official visit by a Russian government representative since the coup disrupted diplomatic relations. Following discussions with the military authorities, Niger and Russia signed documents aimed at strengthening their military cooperation. Niger’s strategic repositioning extends to neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali, both partners with Russia and governed by leaders who emerged from coups d’état.
In a significant geopolitical move, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, all grappling with jihadist violence, announced their departure from the anti-jihadist organization G5 Sahel on November 29. This decision, coming nine years after the organization’s establishment, challenges the region’s stability and was largely financed by the European Union.
In September, the three countries formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to enhance their cooperation in the face of shared security concerns, further solidifying their departure from Western-backed initiatives.
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