Niger ends military co-operation agreement with US

Niger’s junta has ended a military accord that allowed US troops to operate in the West African country, dealing a blow to Washington’s agenda in the region and raising the prospect of increased Russian influence, Report informs via The Financial Times.

Regime spokesman Colonel Amadou Abdramane said in a television broadcast late on Saturday that the 2012 military agreement between the two countries was “illegal and violates all constitutional rules” and that it was “profoundly unfair” to Niger’s people.

Although he stopped short of calling on US troops to depart the country, revoking the defense co-operation agreement in effect ends their mission in the nation of 25 million people.

The announcement comes days after a US delegation, including Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee and head of the US-Africa Command General Michael Langley, visited the Nigerien capital Niamey for talks with government leaders.

The US maintains more than 1,000 soldiers and civilian employees in Niger and runs two drone bases to monitor affiliates of the Islamist groups Islamic State and al-Qaeda that are active in the Sahel, the semi-arid region south of the Sahara.

Abdramane described the US officials as “condescending” towards the Nigerien government and people.