The European Union’s dispute with the new rulers in Niger; Stop the operation to support the Niger police

According to the international group Tasnim news agency quoted by “NTV” of Germany, Union Europe had sent a police mission to Niger to support the security authorities in the fight against organized crime. However, disagreements with the new military rulers brought an abrupt end to this cooperation, and European military forces had to return to Europe as quickly as possible. The European Civil Reconstruction Mission in this West African country must leave the country as soon as possible.

In the short term, the European Union has to accelerate the withdrawal of the EUCAP Niger Coast mission, an EU spokesman said. The international staff of the mission, made available by EU member states, will return to Europe as soon as possible.

After Niger’s military government ended cooperation last December after twelve years, already The withdrawal of European troops was planned in May. The European Union strongly protested last week’s attack on the EUCAP headquarters in Niamey, the capital of this country, during which the equipment of the police mission was confiscated. It is mentioned with extreme violence, drugs, weapons and human trafficking. After political changes in July, Niger’s self-proclaimed transitional government turned away from previous partners, notably former colonial power France. The mission’s main branch in the desert town of Agadez, on the migration route to the north, has already been closed.

About a week ago on Thursday, Nigerian state television reported that weapons were found on February 19 in the private home of a member of the French EUCAP discovered. Then the EUCAP headquarters was also inspected. According to Niger’s army, drones, pistols, semi-automatic weapons, protective equipment and large amounts of ammunition were discovered there.

The European Union spokesman called the unannounced attack unacceptable and a “breach of trust in The European Union strongly condemned this new incident. The European Union asked the current authorities in Niger to respect the country’s commitments. It is also one of the most important transit countries for migrants who want to travel to Europe. Before the July 2023 developments, the country was the last partner of Europe and the United States in the Sahel region. For the period 2021 to 2024 alone, at least 503 million euros were planned to be paid to this country through a multi-year program.

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