Niger Republic junta revokes military agreement with US, says it was imposed

The military junta in Niger Republic says it has ended its cooperation with the United States. 

The agreement allowed military personnel and civilian staff from the US department of defence to operate in the country.

Announcing the change on national television, Amadou Abdramane, Niger military spokesperson, said the agreement between the two countries, which was signed in 2012, was imposed and had been in violation of the nation’s sovereignty.

“The government of Niger, taking into account the aspirations and interests of its people, decides with full responsibility to denounce with immediate effect the agreement relating to the status of military personnel of the United States and civilian employees of the American Department of Defense in the territory of the Republic of Niger,” he said.

“This agreement is not only profoundly unfair in its substance but it also does not meet the aspirations and interests of the Nigerien people.”

The announcement comes after a senior US delegation paid a three-day visit to Niger this week.

Abdramane said during the meetings, Nigerien and US officials discussed the military transition in Niger.

He, however, said the US delegation was received out of “courtesy” and “did not respect diplomatic practices” by not providing information regarding the date of its arrival, the composition of the delegation, and the purpose of the visit.

Abdramane said Niger “forcefully denounces the condescending attitude” of the US, “accompanied by the threat of retaliation from the head of the American delegation towards the Nigerien government and people”.

“The government of Niger regrets the desire of the American delegation to deny the Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and the types of partnerships capable of helping them truly fight against terrorists,” he said.

“This attitude is likely to undermine the quality of our centuries-old relations and undermine the trust between our two governments.”