Niger

The Council today adopted a decision establishing a Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) military partnership mission to support Niger in its fight against terrorist armed groups. It will  enhance the ability of Niger Armed Forces to contain the threat, protect the population in the country and ensure a safe and secure environment in compliance with human rights law and international humanitarian law.

The Nigerien National Defence Minister Alkassoum Indatou says Niger will continue its "beneficial" military cooperation with Russia.

The European Union aims to set up a “military partnership mission” in the coming months to help bolster Niger’s forces as they battle jihadists, a senior EU official said Friday.

Several hundred people demonstrated peacefully Sunday in the streets of the Nigerien capital Niamey, to protest against the French anti-jihadist force Barkhane, while praising Russia, a journalist from AFP noted.

The Council today decided to renew the mandate of the EU civilian mission EUCAP Sahel Niger until 30 September 2024 with a budget allocation of just over €72 million for the period from 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2024. The Council has also decided to slightly adjust the mission’s mandate to allow it to exchange EU classified information with the EU Justice and Home Affairs agencies.

Burkina Faso and Niger, two countries affected by the jihadist violence that started in northern Mali in 2013, on Monday called on Bamako to "come back and assume its responsibilities" as part of sub-regional cooperation in the fight against jihadism.

A march planned for Wednesday in Niamey against the presence of soldiers of the Barkhane force in Niger was banned and its organizers announced that they had decided to launch a petition demanding their departure instead.

[…] The objective of this assistance measure is to strengthen the capabilities and resilience of the Nigerien Armed Forces in order to enable them to defend the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of the country and to better protect the civilian population against the mounting terrorist threat.

Last month, the Nigerien parliament approved a bill paving the way for the redeployment of two French-led counterterrorism missions, Operation Barkhane and the European Task Force Takuba from Mali to the country.

[…] He reiterated his call for more resources to tackle the problem saying that “peace, stability and prosperity in Niger and across the Sahel remains an absolute priority for the United Nations.”