On Wednesday, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, met with General Moussa Salaou Barmou, Chief of Staff of the Nigerien Armed Forces, in Niamey. The meeting aimed to enhance the bilateral relationship and explore opportunities for increased security cooperation between the two nations.
According to Defence Spokesman Brigadier General Tukar Gusau, the leaders highlighted the importance of ongoing dialogue and collaboration to address shared security challenges. They agreed to expand cooperation through joint military operations, intelligence sharing, and tactical coordination.
The proliferation of small arms and light weapons was identified as a major security concern. Both generals committed to intensifying efforts to curb the illicit flow of these weapons and to enhance border security.
The meeting also addressed the need to resume and strengthen participation in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJT), reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to supporting regional stability. General Barmou accepted an invitation to visit Nigeria to finalize cooperation details and establish a Nigerien advisory group to work with its Nigerian counterpart.
This visit comes in the wake of strained relations due to the July 2023 coup in Niger, which ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had previously considered military intervention but opted for diplomatic measures, leading to the lifting of sanctions in July 2023.
The renewed cooperation is seen as part of broader ECOWAS efforts to encourage Niger and other countries to rejoin the regional bloc. General Musa’s visit is also a step toward reinforcing ties and addressing regional security issues amid ongoing terrorist threats in the Sahel region.
