🇳🇪 Suspected jihadists kill dozens of Niger soldiers

Niger's defence ministry says 29 soldiers have been killed in an assault by suspected jihadists in the west of the country. Two soldiers were seriously wounded and "several dozen terrorists" were also killed.

In a televised statement officials said the troops had been targeted by more than a 100 militants, using weapons including improvised explosive devices.

The attack took place northwest of Tabatol near the country's border with Mali, during military operations aimed at "neutralising the threat posed by the Islamic State" in the area.

Three days of national mourning has been declared.

#Niger

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🇳🇪 Niger bans exports of liquefied petroleum gas

Niger has banned all exports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) until further notice, the government said in a statement on Tuesday.

National production should be used to supply the domestic market, and in case of surplus a special authorization can be requested to export it, the statement said.

Niger normally exports its surplus petroleum gas to neighbouring Nigeria.

#Niger

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🇺🇸🇳🇪 The US is close to officially declaring the overthrow of Niger's government a coup

More than two months after elements of the military seized power in Niger, the Biden administration is close to officially designating the overthrow of the country’s elected government a coup.

The US State Department is preparing to officially designate the military takeover in Niger as a coup d’etat as soon as next week, three US officials told.

The department is set to announce that the US will be suspending certain forms of assistance to Niger. However, the US embassy can continue to operate and the US military will be able to legally keep forces in Niger if a coup designation is made, US officials said.

#USA #Niger

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🇧🇫🇳🇪 6 soldiers and 31 terrorists were killed in fighting near Burkina Faso — Niger border

Six soldiers and 31 "terrorists" were killed in fighting on Sunday and Monday in the Téra zone, in western Niger near Burkina Faso, the Nigerien Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

“From Sunday October 15 to Monday October 16, 2023, the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) of Operation Niya on a mop-up mission had a series of clashes with terrorist elements in the Lemdou area 50 km to the north -west of Téra", explains the ministry.

“Six soldiers died” and 18 others, injured, were evacuated to Niamey, specifies the statement.

The fighting took place in the Tillabéri region, in the middle of the so-called “three borders” zone between Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali , which has become a hideout for Sahelian jihadists affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the EIGS.

#BurkinaFaso #Niger

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🇪🇺🇳🇪 EU agrees on framework for Niger sanctions

European Union countries on Monday adopted a framework to impose sanctions on members of a junta that seized power in Niger in July.

The new framework will allow the EU to sanction individuals and entities responsible for actions that threaten the peace, stability and security of Niger, undermine the constitutional order, or constitute serious violations to human rights or international humanitarian law, the EU Council said.

With this, the EU aims to mirror and strengthen any measures taken by the West African regional organisation ECOWAS.

"The EU has from the very beginning condemned the coup d'état in Niger in the strongest terms," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said.

With the restrictive measures, the EU could freeze assets of targeted entities and individuals and hand them travel bans.

#EU #Niger

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🇺🇳🇳🇪 UN to resume humanitarian flight operations in Niger

The United Nations has said it will resume delivering humanitarian supplies and evacuating staff in Niger after the country's ruling junta lifted domestic flight restrictions.

“The national aviation authorities in Niger have informed the UN Humanitarian Air Service that flight restrictions are now lifted for domestic operations, and that services can resume as of tomorrow,” the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairsv said on.

It said that the resumption of domestic flight operations will facilitate the monthly delivery of nearly 2.4 metric tonnes of medical supplies and other aid as well as “critical medical and security evacuations for humanitarian staff”.

#UN #Niger

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🇺🇸🇳🇪 Has the US suddenly recognized the military junta in Niger?

Yesterday, US Ambassador Kathleen Fitzgibbon officially presented her credentials to the Niger Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This diplomatic procedure was immediately seen as a sign of normalized relations and recognition of the new government following the military coup in July.

Fitzgibbon arrived in the country in August, and the local Foreign Ministry expected her to take office several months ago. However, Washington then stated that the ambassador would not present her credentials to the new authorities of Niger, as the United States did not recognize them. Well, after the presentation procedure, the media naturally started discussing Niger's shift towards the United States and the reasons behind this unexpected warming.

But for those who have been following the events in the region, the staged performance did not come as a surprise. From the beginning, the United States had no intention of giving up its positions in the African country. Instead, it was engaged in negotiations and squeezing out France to gain control over key assets, not to mention the US strategic military installations in Niger.

📌 Currently, the United States controls a large Air Force Base 201 near the city of Agadez in northeastern Niger. This air base serves as an intelligence and surveillance center for the Sahel region and is equipped with attack drones and transport aircraft. In total, there are approximately 1,000 US military personnel in Niger.

Interestingly, a few days before these events, Niger and Burkina Faso (for different reasons) withdrew from the pro-French G5 Sahel defense alliance, just as Mali did a year earlier. As a result, only Chad and Mauritania remain in the alliance.

🔻In general, similar processes are occurring in Niger as what is happening in Gabon. Through trades and aggressive takeovers, the United States is replacing France as the colonial metropolis.
#Africa #Niger #USA
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🇫🇷🇳🇪 Yesterday, France made the announcement that it would be closing its embassy in Niger indefinitely. The reason given was that the embassy was unable to carry out diplomatic tasks due to restrictions imposed by the ruling junta.

It is important to note that the diplomatic mission of the Fifth Republic has not been fully functional since the end of August. This was when the new authorities of Niger ordered the French Ambassador, Sylvain Itte, to leave the country. Ambassador Itte complied and left on September 27.

Meanwhile, today marks the withdrawal of the last French troops from Niger, bringing an end to over a decade of Paris' military mission.

🔻The Nigerian junta has been rapidly cutting ties with France since the end of July. However, France still maintains economic influence, as business, the financial system, and the accounts of the local elite are still tied to France. However, in other areas, such as the military, the ties are no longer functioning.

It is worth mentioning again that these events align with the US plans to remove France from its former colonies on the continent.

The closure of the diplomatic mission of the Fifth Republic and the complete withdrawal of troops benefit the United States, which not only retains control over the large 201 air force base near the city of Agadez but is also gradually attempting to expand its influence. This is further confirmed by the normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and Niger.

#Africa #Niger #France
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🇷🇺🇳🇪 Russia and Niger agree to develop military ties

Russia and Niger, under military rule since a coup last year, have agreed to develop military cooperation, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

According to Russian news agencies, Russian Deputy Defense Ministers Yunus-Bek Yevkurov and Alexander Fomin met Niger's Defense Minister Salifu Modi.
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"The parties noted the importance of developing Russian-Niger relations in the defense sector and agreed to intensify joint actions to stabilize the situation in the region," the ministry said, adding that it aims to continue dialogue on "increasing the combat readiness" of Niger's military.

#Russia #Niger

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🇮🇷🇳🇪 Iran and Niger sign economic and health cooperation agreements

Iran and Niger have taken a step forward in strengthening their bilateral relations with the signing of two agreements focused on economic, political, and health sector cooperation. The documents were signed during a high-profile ceremony in Tehran.

Sides also signed agreements on energy and counter-terrorism.

The ceremony featured key officials from both nations, including Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber and Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine.

Mokhber said expanding ties with African states, particularly Niger, is a strategic focus of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s administration. He expressed satisfaction with the progress made toward reopening Niger’s embassy in Tehran, viewing it as a catalyst for further enhancing the countries’ relationship.

#Iran #Niger

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🇧🇫🇲🇱🇳🇪 ECOWAS urges Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to prioritise dialogue and reconciliation

ECOWAS is urging Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to prioritise dialogue and reconciliation amidst concerns of potential exits from the community.

The regional body which took this position at the conclusion of its extraordinary session on February 8, 2024, stressed the critical need for diplomacy and unity in the face of regional challenges.

At the conclusion of the session, Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Chair of the Mediation and Security Council, Yusuf Tuggar, said the decision of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mail to withdraw from the community has presented yet another challenge, however, members are heartened by the spirit of cooperation to resolve this challenge.

He added that “We must carry forward the momentum generated in this session and continue our efforts to engage with the concerned member states in the spirit of understanding and reconciliation”.

#ECOWAS #BurkinaFaso #Mali #Niger

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🇳🇪🇧🇯 Niger's First Oil Reaches Benin

A quite significant event has occurred in the Sahel region - the construction of the pipeline between Niger and Benin has finally been completed. The US and ECOWAS actively threatened the Nigerien junta with sanctions over this project.

However, contrary to the unsubstantiated claims of Western media, the Niger-Benin oil pipeline has not only been built, but has also been successfully put into operation. Oil from the Agadez field has reached Seme-Kraké in Benin, near the capital Cotonou.

▪️Currently, Niger is producing 20,000 barrels per day, with the mediation of the Chinese CNPC, with whom a new export contract was recently signed.

▪️According to plans, by 2026 Niger will be producing 200,000 barrels per day, making it one of the largest oil exporters in Africa.

▪️For Benin, this pipeline is important, as it is planned to create about 2,000 new jobs for its maintenance. In addition, the Nigerien authorities will pay transit fees for access to Benin's ports.

The commissioning of the pipeline and the supply of oil through it indicates the final settlement of the crisis in relations between Niamey and ECOWAS.

🔻 And all the past threats against the current Nigerien authorities have remained just threats: there was no invasion of Niger, nor a global economic crisis due to the imposed sanctions.

Against the backdrop of deteriorating security situation in Benin, one can expect an intensification of military cooperation, for example, in joint border patrols.

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#Africa #Benin #Niger
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🇲🇱🇧🇫🇳🇪 How the first summit of the Sahel States Alliance went

On July 6, the first summit of the Sahel States Alliance, which unites the anti-Western governments of West Africa, was held in the capital of Niger, Niamey. As a result, steps were taken to create a confederation of the three countries and continue the integration processes.

Earlier, the leaders of the three countries agreed to create a united group of troops to fight terrorism, which they later reinforced with joint cross-border operations. The success in the military sphere was also confirmed at the summit by the intention to create a unified security policy.

❗️Now their most important task is to ensure economic sovereignty.

Serious steps have been taken in this direction: following the summit, a joint investment bank was created. The heads of the three states also reinforced their separation from ECOWAS, despite statements by the President of Senegal to the contrary. Most likely, this is how they announced their course towards abandoning the CFA franc.

There were also intentions to coordinate diplomatic steps and create a single space for the movement of goods and people.

Following the summit, the President of Mali, Assimi Goïta, was elected as the head of the Sahel States Alliance for one year.

🔻In this example, we can see how, with the mediation of Russian military and political specialists, the Sahel countries have embarked on the path of genuine economic sovereignty with the support of Moscow.

At the same time, seeing such determination of the local governments, we should also conduct a more active economic policy in the region with the involvement of Russian business. Because, despite all our military successes, important economic projects still, for some reason, go to the Anglo-Saxons.
#Africa #BurkinaFaso #Mali #Niger
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🇳🇪 Situation in Niger: Intensification of Counter-Terrorism Activities

Summary for July 21 - August 21, 2024

The positive trend aimed at destroying cells of terrorist organizations on the territory of the country continues.

▪️Along the Malian border, the armed forces conducted an operation to free hostages from the captivity of the local branch of the "Islamic State", involving about a thousand troops. After the hostages began to be evacuated, the convoy was ambushed by terrorists, resulting in about 30 casualties.

At the same time, thanks to aerial reconnaissance near the city of Bankilaré, a large concentration of militants was destroyed using drones. As a result, about a dozen extremists were neutralized.

▪️Further south on the border with Burkina Faso, where JNIM militants linked to Al-Qaeda are entrenched, terrorist detachments from where they sometimes arrive were also eliminated. More than 20 radicals were eliminated in the local forests.

After the summit of the Sahel States Alliance, which decided to create a confederation, there is a solidarity between the foreign policy departments of Ouagadougou, Bamako and Niamey. After support from Kyiv for the attacks by Islamists on Tin-Zaouatine, all three countries severed ties with it, calling on the UN to condemn the actions of the Ukrainian leadership.

In addition, ties with the Algerian authorities have also strengthened. The ministers are actively discussing security and economic integration issues.

🔻We emphasize once again that the pragmatic authorities of Niamey maneuver between the interests of many countries, but remain committed to the course of sovereignty with Russian support. And the support of the African Corps allows for large-scale counter-terrorist operations, which has a positive impact on the situation within the country.

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#Africa #Niger #Sahel #map
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🇫🇷🇳🇪 French nuclear giant slips into the red following Niger-French breakup

French nuclear giant Orano ended the first half of the year with a loss of €133 million, weighed down by difficulties in its mining activities in Niger due to a "highly degraded" political context since a military regime came to power a year ago.

The coup in Niger on 26 July last year led to a halt in imports of critical materials necessary for uranium exploitation in Orano's Somaïr mine, such as soda ash, carbonate, nitrates and sulphur.

And although uranium extraction continued in the first quarter of 2024 "after several months of early maintenance," Somaïr’s sales were unable to resume "due to a lack of logistics solutions approved by the Niger authorities".

In late June, Niger decided to withdraw the licence of Imouraren SA, a company jointly operated by Orano, Niger Mining and Korea Electric Power, and which ran the Somaïr mine.

The situation could eventually lead to "insolvency in the short to medium term, in the coming months", Claverie said.

#France #Niger

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🇳🇪🇩🇪 German troops to leave Niger

German troops leave Niger. On August 30, Niger's chief of land forces Mamane Sani Kiau and Colonel Struss Karsten of Germany signed an agreement to hand over Air Base 101 to the West African country's armed forces.

"Today's ceremony marks the final withdrawal of German troops from Niger and the closure and handover of their facility," said one member of the withdrawal committee.

#Niger #Germany

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🇳🇪 US military says it completes Niger withdrawal

The U.S. military said on Monday it had completed its withdrawal from Niger.

The West African nation's ruling junta in April ordered the U.S. to withdraw its nearly 1,000 military personnel from the country, in an embarrassing setback for Washington that followed a coup last year in the West African nation. Before that, Niger had been a key military partner for the U.S. in the region.

The U.S. withdrawal from Niger was carried out in phases, with U.S. forces and assets withdrawing from Air Base 101 in Niamey on July 7, and Air Base 201 in Agadez on Aug. 5. The U.S. military said on Monday the U.S. Africa Command Coordination Element, consisting of a two-star general and staff, has also departed from Niger, and that the withdrawal was complete by a Sept. 15 deadline.

#Niger

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