On Saturday, the ruling military regime in Niger canceled “with immediate effect” the military cooperation agreement with the United States dating back to 2012, the day after a three-day visit by senior American officials to Niamey.
Amadou Abra Rahman, spokesman for the Nigerien government, said in a statement read on Saturday evening on national television, “The Nigerien government, taking into account the aspirations and interests of the people, decides with all responsibility to cancel with immediate effect the agreement regarding the status of the United States military personnel and civilian employees in the US Department of Defense.” On the territory of Niger.
Abdul Rahman pointed out that the American military presence is “illegal” and “violates all constitutional and democratic rules.”
The agreement is “unjust,” according to Niamey, and was “unilaterally imposed” by the United States through a “simple verbal note” on July 6, 2012.
This step comes shortly after the departure of an American delegation headed by Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Molly V.
But the delegation, which stayed in Niamey for three days, “was unable to meet” General Abderrahmane Tiani, the leader of the military regime, according to what Agence France-Presse reported, quoting a Nigerian government source.
On Saturday, Abdel Rahman said, “The arrival of the American delegation did not respect diplomatic norms,” adding that the American government informed Niamey “unilaterally” of the date of its arrival and the composition of its delegation.
The United States deploys more than a thousand soldiers in Niger, who are stationed at a base in the north and participate in the fight against extremist groups, although their movements have been limited since the army took power.
After the July 26 coup, the military who seized power quickly demanded the departure of French soldiers (about 1,500 soldiers were deployed to fight extremists) and canceled many military agreements concluded with Paris.
The last French soldiers deployed in Niger as part of the war against terrorism left the country on December 22.
ظهرت في الأصل على www.alhurra.com