Niger, the EU “military partnership” mission ends

The Council's decision in Brussels was motivated by the "current serious political situation" in the Sahel country

ROME – The EU Council decided today not to extend the mandate of the European “military partnership” mission in Niger beyond June 30th in light of the “current serious political situation” in the country. A note recalls that the intervention, identified with the acronym “Eumpm”, was ordered in December 2022 at the request of the government then in office in Niamey. The intent, the statement recalls, was to “support the armed forces of Niger to contain the terrorist threat, protect the population and guarantee a safe environment in compliance with humanitarian law and international humanitarian law “.

THE GIUNTA GOES TO POWER IN NIAMEY

A turning point in Niamey, from the European point of view, was the military coup with which President Mohamed Bazoum was deposed on 26 July 2023. Power was assumed two days later by General Abdurahmane Tchiani, at the head of a new body called Conseil national pour la sauvegarde de la patrie(CNSP). Italian soldiers are also present in Niger. The soldiers are part of a bilateral support mission, known by the acronym “Misin”.

NIGER, MILITARY EXERCISE WITH BURKINA FASO, MALI, TOGO AND CHAD

“Large-scale military exercises” are underway in the west of Niger in which the armies of Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad and Togo, all states involved in the violence of armed rebel and political groups, will take part until June 3 jihadist. News Niamey reports this, adding that the exercise – called ‘Tarhanakale’, or “love for the homeland” in the Tuareg language – consists of carrying out “tactical maneuvers” and “initiatives aimed at strengthening the ties with local populations”. This is the first operation of this kind since Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, after their elected governments were overthrown and replaced by military juntas, left the Economic Organization of West African States (ECOWAS), as well as the< strong> G5 Sahel, a military task force promoted by France and the United States to neutralize armed groups in the Sahel. Since then, the three countries have created the Alliance of Sahel States (Alliance des États du Sahel, Aes), characterizing themselves, on a political, economic and military level, by a progressive distancing from the former French colonial power and a rapprochement with new actors, including Russia. According to Niger’s Ministry of Defense, the exercises began on May 20. Place of operations, the Tillia special forces training center, operational since 2021 thanks to funds allocated by Germany and equipped in 2022 with armaments and vehicles by the United States. This area, close to Mali, is in fact the scene of attacks and violence by armed movements affiliated with the Islamic State group (ISIS) and Al-Qaeda. In one episode, in March 2021, 141 civilians lost their lives. In recent weeks, the Nigerian junta has asked American troops stationed in the country to leave the base by September.