Newsbreak: Niger revokes neocolonial military, economic pacts with France

By Ahmed Tijani, Irohinoodua Correspondent, Niamey and Samuel Ogunsona

The military authority in Niger has revoked the 1977 agreement between Niger and her former colonial France

The new law issued in Niger was obtained Tuesday by Irohinoodua correspondent in Niger

The new law announced by the military led by General Abdourahmai Tchiani annulled all previous colonial treaties with France.

The statement was issued and sealed by the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland in Niger.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Niger presents its compliments to the Embassy of France in Niamey, and following the remarks of the highest French authorities, regarding the situation prevailing in Niger since July 26, 2023, has the honor to notify it by decision of the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland (CNSP), the denunciation, by the State of Niger, of cooperation agreements and arrangements in the field of defence and security” the statement said.

The Decree annulled the Agreement of 19 February 1977 on military technical cooperation, in accordance with its article 12 and three months’ notice;
2- The agreement of 25 March 2013 on the legal regime for the intervention of French soldiers in Niger for security in the Sahel, in accordance with point 7 thereof and one month’s notice;
3- The agreement of 19 July 13 on the French soldiers present in Niger as part of the French intervention for security in the Sahel, in accordance with Article 13 thereof and with one month’s notice.

Others included the
The technical arrangement of 02 January 2015 relating to the stationing and activities of the French joint detachment on the territory of the Republic of Niger in accordance with its article 13 and the notice of one month;
5-The Additional Protocol of 28 April 2020, to the Agreement of 25 March 2013 on the legal regime of the intervention of French soldiers in Niger for security in the Sahel.

The new government also cancelled the Agreement of 25 March 2013 on the legal regime of the intervention of French soldiers in Niger for security in the Sahel determining the status of Non-French Detachments of the Takuba Force, in accordance with Article 4 thereof and the 90-day notice.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Niger thanked the Embassy of France in Niamey for its good cooperation and takes “this opportunity to renew the assurances of its high consideration,” the new law noted.