Despite Tensions, Nigeria, Niger Defence Chiefs Agree To Join Forces In Curbing Illegal Circulation Of Arms  

The Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and the Nigerien counterpart, Gen. Salaou Barmou, on Wednesday, agreed to bury the tensions between them and cooperate in fighting against the illegal circulation of small arms and light weapons across the border.

In a meeting held Wednesday in Niamey, Niger, the two defence chiefs discussed security issues concerning the border and the Sahel region.

“Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to resuming and strengthening collaboration, with a view to ensuring regional stability and security,” the Nigeria Army said in a statement. Both defence chiefs also signed a memorandum of understanding in that regard.

This development comes a year after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, threatened to invade Junta-led Niger if the attempts to restore the country to democratic rule failed. Niger’s junta had overthrown former president Mohamed Bazoum in a coup in July 2023.

ECOWAS’ threats and sanctions eventually led the three junta states of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to break away from the West African Union and form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in July 2024.

The statement added that Niger also agreed to resume active participation in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJT), which Nigeria leads in the fight against Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region.

Nigeria and Niger share a long border of more than 1,400km. Boko Haram and other insurgent groups have been operating in the area since 2015.

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