Germany still maintains a military presence in Niger

According to the report of the international group Tasnim news agency quoting The European Union will end its military operations in Niger by the end of June due to the dire situation in the region, according to “D Site”. But the German federal government has announced that it still wants to maintain the presence of the German army in this region.

In this way, Germany has its military air transport center in Niger. For the time being, it will remain open even after the end of the European Union’s military mission in the region.

The German Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday: Germany and Niger reached a temporary agreement. They found that it allows the presence of more German armed forces in this African country. About 90 German soldiers are currently stationed there. Referring to the dire situation in Niger, the European Union announced on Monday that it will end its mission in the African country with dozens of troops on June 30.

Nigerian army in He took power in this country on July 26 last year during a coup. After coups in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger has long been seen as Europe and the United States’ last democratic partner in the Sahel region in the fight against terrorism. Extremist terrorist militias that are close to Al-Qaeda and ISIS have been expanding in this region for years. According to the conflict data organization Acled, at least 14,000 people were killed in the three countries in 2023, at least a third of whom were civilians.

The military rulers in these They pressured the former colonial power France to withdraw its troops, agreed to the withdrawal of American troops, and deepened ties with Russia.

Since 2013, Germany has It has used a base in Niger’s capital, Niamey, as a logistics center for its armed forces in neighboring Mali, who are stationed there as part of the UN peacekeeping mission Minosma. The last German troops will leave Mali at the end of 2023.

The German defense ministry said the interim agreement would allow for a new agreement that would see the Bundeswehr’s presence ” makes it possible in this area. It was initially unclear what Berlin plans to do with the base in Niamey.

About 1,000 American troops are still in Niger, but most of them Air base 201 was moved near Agadiz, 920 km from the capital. The move came shortly after rebel soldiers ousted the country’s elected president last July and replaced him with a military council.

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