The United States and its closest West African ally, Niger, ruptured their military relationship this spring after a visiting U.S official made threats during last-ditch negotiations.
This created an opportunity for Russia to deepen its relationship with Niger.
The U.S froze security support for Niger after a military coup ousted its democratically elected president last year and paused counterterrorism activities. The United States has kept more than 1,000 military personnel in place while negotiating with Niger over their status.
According to the Nigerien Prime Minister, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine’s remarks revealed the extent of the disconnect between the United State and Niger, who were asking for additional military equipment and a more equitable relationship between the two forces.
The U.S. government condemned the coup in Niger and put President Mohamed Bazoum under house arrest.
Still, the new Nigerien government was bewildered that the United States had frozen military support while insisting on keeping troops there.
Zeine accused the United States of using the same tactics used by George W Bush’s administration before the invasion of Iraq in citing later-discredited intelligence information saying Saddam Hussein’s government had tried to buy uranium from Niger to use in its nuclear programme.
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