Despite ongoing tensions, Nigeria and Niger have signed a deal to bolster their security cooperation.
A Nigerian military statement announced that the two countries had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Niamey, Niger’s capital, to reaffirm their commitment to regional stability and security.
This comes a year after a military coup in Niger strained relations between the neighboring nations.
The coup in Niger has also divided the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with some members threatening military intervention to restore the ousted government.
In response, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali withdrew from the bloc in January, citing ECOWAS’s failure to address Islamist violence in the region.
While Niger has remained a part of the multinational joint taskforce fighting Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region, its involvement has been limited.
The newly signed deal, however, reaffirms Niger’s readiness to resume active participation in this security cooperation.
This development marks a significant step towards strengthening regional security and cooperation between Nigeria and Niger, despite the challenges posed by the recent political upheaval in the region.
