Nigeria’s top military commander has held talks with Niger’s army chief to bolster security cooperation, as the escalating violence in the Sahel region worsens in the wake of recent coups.
Tensions between Nigeria and Niger have been strained since Niger’s military seized power in 2023, distancing itself from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who currently chairs ECOWAS, initially adopted a tough stance but has since sought to engage the junta-led governments in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to restore ties with the regional bloc.
On Wednesday, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, met with Niger’s army chief, General Moussa Salaou Barmou, in Niamey. A statement from the Nigerian military on Thursday highlighted that both sides reaffirmed their commitment to reviving and strengthening collaboration, aiming to ensure regional stability and security.
The statement further noted that Niger’s chief of staff would visit Nigeria to finalise the cooperation framework, and a Niger advisory group would be established to improve communication between the two militaries.
Niger also expressed its readiness to actively resume participation in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJT), a regional coalition that includes Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad. The MNJT has been instrumental in combating insurgent groups operating along the shared borders of these nations.
Niger’s military government continues to fight insurgencies linked to Al-Qaeda and Boko Haram, particularly in the western Tillaberi region and the southeastern Diffa area near the Nigerian border.