Following the July 2023 military coup in Niger, the European Union has decided not to renew the mandate of its military partnership mission in the country, APA learned on Monday.
The European Union Council is drawing the line on its military mission in Niger.
In a statement received by APA on Monday, the EU announced its decision not to extend beyond 30 June 2024 the mandate of its Military Partnership Mission (EUMPM) deployed in a Sahel country plagued by jihadist insurgency.
The mission was set up in December 2022 at the request of the former Niger authorities to strengthen the army’s capacity to fight the terrorist threat.
However, following the military coup of 26 July 2023 that overthrew democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum, the EU immediately condemned the seizure of power. In October 2023, targeted sanctions were even slapped on the coup plotters.
The deterioration in relations continued when the military junta gave notice in December 2023 of the end of the legal agreement governing the presence of the European missions EUCAP Sahel Niger and EUMPM Niger on its territory. EUMPM personnel were then redeployed.
Faced with this serious political and security crisis, the Council of the European Union has decided that it would be preferable to end its military mission in Niger when it expires on 30 June.
The future of relations between Brussels and Niamey hangs in the balance.
ARD/ac/lb/as/APA