Severing old ties Tillaberi borders Burkina Faso and Mali — also ruled by military leaders — in a region plagued by terrorist attacks.Groups linked to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State have operated in Tillaberi since 2017 despite a massive deployment of anti-terrorist forces.In January, 22 civilians were killed in an attack on the Tillaberi village of Motogatta, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of the capital Niamey.Niger, one of the world’s poorest countries, had been a frontline partner of the West in battling “terrorists” in the Sahel.But after seizing power, the junta kicked out forces from former colonial power France and, like neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso, has pursued relations with Russia.On Saturday, the military also announced it was breaking off a 2012 agreement with the United States “with immediate effect.”Washington built a desert drone base at a cost of $100 million in northern Niger and has some 1,000 troops in the West African country.Earlier this week, it described military ties with Niger as mutually beneficial and said it was awaiting clarification on the announcement severing cooperation.
Source link
