According to US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee’s announcement on Wednesday, Washington intends to resume security and development cooperation with Niger. In an effort to punish Niamey’s new rulers, who seized control in a coup in July, the US, France, and other Western allies had stopped providing aid to the country.
Phee said reporters in the capital of Nigerien that the US administration was worried about the nation’s declining ties with certain of its foreign allies and neighbours. She disclosed that she had met with the leaders of the coup and asked them to take action to bring democracy back and open the door for the restoration of partnerships.
“We want to be a good partner again, but the CNSP has to be a good partner to the United States,” the ambassador stated. “I have made plain to the CNSP [the military government].
The action was taken only a few days after the West African nation and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding to increase defence cooperation.
As part of a review of the nation’s relations with previous Western allies, Niger’s new leadership terminated military ties with the EU earlier this month. This led to the deal. The European Union Capacity Building Mission in Niger was approved in 2012 to help security forces fight Islamist threats, but Niamey withdrew its consent.
Approximately 648 American soldiers were still stationed in Niger, according to a report last week from US President Joe Biden. 1,100 soldiers were stationed in the former French colony, where they were conducting counterterrorism missions in the Sahel, until they were repositioned in September. In the area, US forces collaborate closely with French forces that were driven out by the coup leaders.
Washington suspended over $200 million in foreign aid after Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown on July 26, but it has stated that retreat is not an option and that it would establish practical connections with the new military rulers.
Following the failure of threats to use force to restore Bazoum’s leadership, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) declared last week that it intends to resume discussions with the military government of Niger.
In order to cooperate with the coup leaders to create a “short transition” timeframe to democratic rule—a requirement for the lifting of “harsh” economic sanctions—the regional authority has established a mediation group.
Phee stated on Wednesday that she was certain that the US “will remain Niger’s best partners” and that she had urged the Nigerien government to “respond positively” to the ECOWAS request for negotiations.
Niger’s military chiefs and Togo, one of the ECOWAS mediator nations, have reached a consensus “on the content and timing of the transition” to democratic administration, according to Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey. The announcement was made following the Togolese ambassador’s Thursday meeting in Niamey with his counterpart Bakary Yaou Sangare of Nigerien and another official.
