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Niger cosies up to ‘new friends’ China and Russia just days after sending US military packing
- In the two weeks since Niger severed military ties with the US, it has held several meetings with Chinese and Russian officials
- Observers say China wants to grow its oil and mining interests in the African nation while Russia wants stronger military cooperation
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Niger has already begun courting new international supporters, just days after it severed military ties with the United States and ordered 1,000 American troops out of the country.
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On March 16, Niger’s government broke off “with immediate effect” its military cooperation agreement with the US. The very next week, officials from the Chinese embassy in capital Niamey as well as executives from China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), which has invested billions in Niger’s petroleum industry, met the ruling military junta. They have not been the only Chinese officials to hold talks with the Niger government over the last two weeks.
It is part of what the West African nation calls its “diversification of international partnerships” plan.
The shift in those international partnerships comes after former president Mohamed Bazoum was ousted in a military coup in July last year.
Bazoum was a key US ally. Since his departure, relations between Niger and the West, especially France and the US, have deteriorated, culminating in their troops being ordered to pack up and move out.
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But while Niger has been distancing itself from its former Western partners it has been moving closer to China and Russia.
Each of those new relationships offer something different to the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland – Niger’s ruling military council.
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