The military juntas in Niamey and Bamako have drawn closer to Moscow since the coups in those countries.
The leader of Niger’s National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, (CNSP), Brigadier General Abdourahamane Tiani, spoke by telephone with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, according to a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.
The CNSP said that this “high-level call enabled the two leaders to discuss various issues of common national and international interest.”
In particular, the two leaders discussed bilateral relations between Niger and Russia, and the strengthening of security cooperation against armed terrorist groups.
The CNSP spoke of a “multi-sectoral and comprehensive strategic cooperation project” between Niamey and Moscow, presented by Niger as mutually beneficial.
The telephone conversation took place in the presence of senior Nigerien figures, including the prime minister, the ministers responsible for defence, the interior, foreign affairs and the presidential cabinet.
Goita and Putin
The Niger authorities have moved much closer to the Russians since the July 2023 putsch, as have Burkina Faso and Mali.
On Wednesday, the head of the Malian transition, Colonel Assimi Goita, also said that he had spoken to Mr. Putin.
“I had a telephone conversation with President Putin. We discussed bilateral issues, in particular security and the economy. We agreed to step up cooperation in the fight against terrorism,” he wrote on X.
The military-led countries of the Sahel see Russia as a “strategic” partner against armed groups and an alternative to France, which is seen as imperialist.
DS/te/fss/as/APA