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Niger’s army authorities introduced that it has ended an accord with the US that allowed army personnel and civilian employees from the Division of Protection to function in Niger – days after holding high-level talks with US diplomatic and army officers this week.
“The federal government of Niger, taking into consideration the aspirations and pursuits of its folks, decides with full accountability to denounce with instant impact the settlement regarding the standing of army personnel of america and civilian staff of the American Division of Protection within the territory of the Republic of Niger,” Niger army spokesman Colonel Main Amadou Abdramane mentioned in an announcement on nationwide tv saying the change.
Abdramane added that the settlement between the 2 nations – signed in 2012, was imposed on Niger and had been in violation of the “constitutional and democratic guidelines” of the West African nation’s sovereignty.
“This settlement will not be solely profoundly unfair in its substance but it surely additionally doesn’t meet the aspirations and pursuits of the Nigerien folks,” he mentioned.
Niger was once a key regional partner for the US, however relations have deteriorated for the reason that army junta claimed energy in July 2023 in what the US formally designated as a coup.
Since then, the US has withdrawn lots of its 1,100 troops who had been stationed in Niger.
Senior Pentagon officers consider that holding a presence in Niger is important to efforts to deal with terrorism within the area. In October, the Pentagon mentioned it was still assessing how the change would impression roughly 1,000 US forces stationed within the nation.
In a letter sent to Congress in December 2023, President Joe Biden famous that roughly 648 US army personnel stay deployed to Niger.
‘Condescending angle’
The announcement comes after a senior US delegation’s three-day go to to Niger this week.
Abdramane mentioned that the US delegation was obtained out of “courtesy” and “didn’t respect diplomatic practices” by not offering data relating to the date of its arrival, the composition of the delegation and the aim of the go to.
Throughout conferences, Nigerien and American officers mentioned the army transition in Niger and army cooperation between the 2 nations, Abdramane mentioned.
“The federal government of Niger regrets the need of the American delegation to disclaim the Nigerien folks the correct to decide on their companions and the forms of partnerships able to serving to them really combat in opposition to terrorists,” Abdramane mentioned.
Abdramane mentioned Niger “forcefully denounces the condescending angle” of the US.
“This angle is prone to undermine the standard of our centuries-old relations and undermine the belief between our two governments,” he mentioned.
He additionally rejected what he mentioned had been allegations of a secret deal made between Niger, Russia, and Iran.
CNN has reached out to the US Division of Protection for remark.
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