The Nigerien authorities said on Monday they had terminated an agreement with the European Union on the deployment of the civilian EUCAP Sahel Niger mission in the African country.
"The [Nigerien] Foreign Ministry has the honor to announce the denunciation of the agreement between the Republic of Niger and the European Union regarding the status of the EUCAP Sahel Niger mission, giving six months' advance notice," the statement published by Niger's National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) on X read.
In July 2012, the Council of the EU approved the deployment of the mission in Niger for peacekeeping, organized crime fighting and conflict prevention in Africa's Sahel region.
The EUCAP Sahel Niger mission is part of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) mechanism, which allows the EU to deploy missions abroad for peacekeeping and conflict prevention. EUCAP helped train Niger's internal security officials. Its task is to train security forces and provide legal assistance to law enforcement agencies in Niger. The mission's mandate was last extended by the EU until September 2024. The mission includes about 130 staff.
Niger, a former French colony, saw an elite military force depose the French-backed president, Mohamed Bazoum, in late July. The rebels demanded that France call back its ambassador and withdraw troops from Niger's soil. Multiple protests have taken place outside the French military base in Niamey since the coup, with protesters demanding that Niger's former colonial master end its military presence in the country.