Abuja had already threatened to send troops to invade Niger as part of a planned regional mission in response to the Niamey coup.
Nigeria and Niger have signed a security cooperation agreement, despite strained relations since last year’s Niamey coup. The Nigerian military announced the deal on Thursday, saying it aims to strengthen regional stability.
The agreement was reached during a meeting on Wednesday in Niamey, the capital of Niger, between Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, and his Nigerien counterpart, General Moussa Salaou Barmou, according to an army statement.
“Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to resume and strengthen collaboration, with a view to ensuring regional stability and security,” he said.
“Nigeria is universally known for its adherence to the principle of good neighbourliness and would not be used to destabilise Niger or any of the countries contiguous to Nigeria,” the statement has been added.
Niger has been under military rule since July 2023, when soldiers overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum. In addition to Burkina Faso and Mali, both under military rule, the event has strained relations between the Sahel country and its West African neighbors. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had threatened to use force against the putschists, and several of Niger’s neighbors, including Nigeria, the regional bloc’s current president, had expressed willingness to provide troops to the Paris-backed armed mission.
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Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali withdrew from the 15-nation group in January, accusing it of threatening their sovereignty by serving as an instrument of foreign powers, including France, with which they have severed military ties. The new leaders in Niamey, along with their allies in Bamako and Ouagadougou, have said the military coups in their respective countries were a response to the failure of their civilian governments to combat Islamist terrorists in the Sahel region despite the presence of foreign troops.
The three former French colonies have formed the Alliance of Sahel States, an alternative grouping through which they intend to jointly combat internal and external security threats.
Although Niger remained a member of the Nigerian-led Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTS) fighting Boko Haram around Lake Chad, it reportedly kept its involvement to a minimum.
However, following the signing of the new agreement with Abuja on Wednesday, Niamey “affirmed its willingness to resume its active participation in security cooperation within the framework of the MNJT”, according to a statement from the Nigerian army.
The military said Niger’s defense chief agreed to travel to Nigeria to finalize details of the defense pact this week, but did not specify when.
RT
