Niger’s ruling military junta has ended a military accord that allowed US troops to operate in the west African country, dealing a blow to Washington’s agenda in the region and raising the prospect of increased Russian influence.Regime spokesman Colonel Amadou Abdramane said in a television broadcast late on Saturday that the 2012 military agreement between the two countries was “illegal and violates all constitutional rules” and that it was “profoundly unfair” to Niger’s people.
Although he stopped short of calling on US troops to depart the country, revoking the defence co-operation agreement in effect ends their mission in the nation of 25mn people.
The announcement comes days after a US delegation, including assistant secretary of state for African affairs Molly Phee and head of the US-Africa Command General Michael Langley, visited the Nigerien capital Niamey for talks with government leaders.