Niger authorizes the presence of foreign forces on its territory
French troops from Barkhane leave the city of Gao in January 2022. AP - Jerome Delay
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On Friday, April 22, Parliament adopted the bill already approved on March 4 by the Council of Ministers.
The aim is to strengthen the fight against jihadist groups in Niger and the Sahel region.
The European special forces hitherto based in Mali will be redeployed on Niger soil.
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It's official, some of the approximately 2,400 French soldiers from Operation Barkhane and the 900 European Takuba special forces who are to leave Mali will be redeployed to Niger in the coming months.
In February, President Mohamed Bazoum had already given his agreement in principle for this redeployment but it was necessary to obtain the agreement of the Nigerien Parliament.
It is now done.
The deputies were able to debate it all day in the presence of the Prime Minister.
This initiative was not to the liking of all elected officials.
Many have pointed to gray areas in the proposed text, asking for more information about this military cooperation agreement between Niger and foreign forces.
The Constitution is set aside to allow power to make a forced passage, according to the opposition.
“
We have not been allowed to see what the agreements contain or the agreement that will bind us.
We were asked to give the government a blank check, which we refused
,” summed up Soumana Sanda, of the Moden Lumana party, which has 19 deputies.
Others expressed their fear of seeing their country lose its sovereignty and integrity.
Omar Hamidou Tchiana, of the Amen Amin party
The result of the vote - 131 votes for, 31 against - left little room for doubt since President Bazoum's ruling party has an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly.
But Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou spoke before Parliament to reassure the opposition.
It is indeed a close collaboration between the Nigerien military and foreign forces.
He added: “
Our army is one of the best in West Africa but that is not enough because terrorists come from everywhere, our territory is vast and our numbers are still insufficient.
»
The nations of the world have understood that the fight that is happening is not just about the Sahel.
And that's why they want to participate in this fight, because it's in their interest.
From the Sahel, the Islamic State aims to cover the whole of West Africa and even beyond.
[...] We cannot, on our own, fight against this enemy.
Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou
But that should not calm the anger of part of the opposition and civil society who denounce the growing influence of foreign forces and in particular that of France.
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Niger
France
Terrorism