Niger parliament backs re-deployment of special forces from Mali

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Niger’s lawmakers voted Friday to accept European special forces to be deployed in the country from neighboring Mali to help stem terrorism across the Sahel.

Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou presented the government bill to lawmakers to accept the deployment of the French Barkhane and European Takuba forces from Mali.

It was criticized by some parties opposed to what they see as Western military influence.

After the debate, the government was given the green light in a 131 - 31 vote.

The Cabinet had adopted the bill March 22.

The legislation allows the deployment of allied forces to help fight against terrorism and participate in joint military operations.

“Despite the efforts made to contain the threat around our borders, the human and economic toll is heavy,” the government had argued in the bill.

Mahamadou said Niger is almost surrounded by terror groups and the security situation requires a joint commitment and an effective fight against terrorism.

Minority opposition MPs denounced the move as an “unconstitutional maneuver” to legitimize the presence of foreign military bases in Niger.

President Mohamed Bazoum announced in February he had accepted French and European special forces to be deployed from neighboring Mali to respond to threats posed by terror groups in the tri-border area.

His remarks followed an announcement by European leaders of their decision to pull out forces deployed in Mali as part of a counter-terrorism mission, due to “multiple obstructions by the Malian transitional authorities.”

About 2,400 French troops that were part of the forces deployed in Mali and roughly 900 special forces in the French-led Takuba task force were helping Mali and West Africa Sahel neighbors, Burkina Faso and Niger, tackle an insurgency linked to the al-Qaeda and Daesh/ISIS terror groups.