On Tuesday, Niger announced a break in diplomatic relations with Ukraine "with immediate effect". This information was provided by Amadou Abdramane, spokesperson for Niger's military government, during a national tv broadcast. This decision has sparked major global unrest and has serious implications for diplomatic relations in the region.
Reasons for breaking diplomatic relations
According to a message that quotes the press agency Xinhua, Niger broke diplomatic relations with Ukraine due to “ Kiev's support for terrorist organizationsuth’. The message besides stresses that this decision was taken in solidarity with Mali, which accuses Ukraine of "aggression".
"Taking into account the gravity of the situation and Ukraine's recognised and assumed commitment to force against Mali, Niger's government, solidarity with the government and the people of Mali, has decided to break diplomatic relations with Ukraine 'with immediate effect' and to mention the substance to the UN safety Council to resolve the issue of Ukrainian 'aggression' and its sponsors."
Regional context
The decision to break diplomatic relations with Ukraine is another step in the long-term process of reducing Western influence in the Sahel region. Niger defence Ministry and the Pentagon announced that the last American soldier had left Niger, confirming the withdrawal of Western influence.
"The withdrawal of U.S. forces and resources from the 201 airbase in Agadez has been completed," reported Lebanese tv Al Mayadeen. The withdrawal of US troops in Niger began in March, after the military interim government of the African state broke the military agreement with the United States, citing the interests of the nation.
International reactions
The coup d'état in Niger last July, which brought the National Council for Homeland Protection to power with Gen. Abdourahaman Tchiani at the head, met with fierce criticism from the United Nations, ECOWAS, France and the USA. The economical Community of the West African States (ECOWAS) has threatened Niger with severe sanctions and even military intervention, although it has been identified as a last resort. However, the 3 states of the Community, where they besides regulation the military – Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, opposed sanctions and interventions.
As a result, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger formed a formal alliance and announced leaving ECOWAS, which further complicates the situation in the region.
Geopolitical changes
Niger was the last state in the Sahel region to be considered an ally by Western powers. The withdrawal of the French, followed by Americans, highlights the changing geopolitical dynamics in the region.
Niger's decision to break diplomatic relations with Ukraine, although surprising, falls within the broader context of the diminishing influence of the West and the increasing solidarity between the Sahel countries, which search greater independency and independency on the global stage.
Conclusion
The breakup of diplomatic relations between Niger and Ukraine is another step in the long-term process of changing the government in the Sahel region. This decision, motivated by accusations of supporting Ukraine to terrorist organisations, highlights the expanding tensions between the countries of the region and the West. In the context of the withdrawal of US and French troops from Niger, the situation in Sahel is becoming increasingly complicated and requires further observation.
Daniel Głogowski
Expert in his field – Publicist, author and social activist. The first articles were published in 1999 for global publishers. For more than 30 years, he has gained his experience through cooperation with the largest editorial offices. In his articles, he seeks to address controversial topics and present first viewpoints that allowed for a deeper knowing of the issues discussed.
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Niger breaks diplomatic relations with Ukraine
