Niamey and Tehran have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Niamey aimed at deepening their security cooperation, particularly in the fight against terrorism and transnational trafficking, in a regional context marked by a geopolitical reshuffle in the Sahel.
On Thursday, May 8, a high-level Iranian delegation, led by General Ahmad Reza Radan, Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Security Forces, was received by Nigerien authorities.
The visit resulted in the signing of a bilateral security agreement.
The meeting was held at the office of the Nigerien Minister of the Interior, Public Security, and Territorial Administration, General Mohamed Toumba.
Several senior officials from the country’s defense and security forces attended, including the Director General of the National Police and the High Commander of the Niger National Guard.
On this occasion, the two parties agreed to create a committee of experts to meet regularly to identify mechanisms to strengthen security cooperation between their countries.
According to a press release from the Nigerien Ministry of the Interior, the agreement aims to intensify collaboration in several key areas: the fight against terrorism, transnational organised crime, various forms of trafficking, border control, and the fight against illegal immigration.
Niger, like Mali and Burkina Faso, remains severely affected by jihadist violence.
These three countries, ruled by military juntas, have cited security as the main motivation for their seizure of power.
They recently announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), which they accuse of being subservient to Western interests, particularly French, to jointly form the Confederation of Sahel States.
For its part, Iran, in open confrontation with Western powers, is seeking to strengthen its diplomatic and security foothold in Africa, particularly in the Sahel.
Suspected of pursuing nuclear weapons, Tehran has allocated $10.3 billion to its military budget in 2023, ranking it the fourth largest defense spender in the Middle East, according to the International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Iran already supplies various military equipment – including missiles and drones – to several African states.
ODL/te/Sf/fss/as/APA