Niger’s ruling junta has officially withdrawn from the Multinational Joint Task
Force (MNJTF), a regional military coalition formed in 2015 by Cameroon, Chad,
Niger, and Nigeria to fight Islamist insurgents like Boko Haram in the Lake Chad
area. The announcement, broadcast on state television, cited the need to strengthen
security around oil sites. The withdrawal highlights Niger’s growing isolation from
regional bodies, following its exit from ECOWAS and its alignment with the
Alliance of Sahel States (AES), alongside Mali and Burkina Faso. Experts say the
MNJTF had long struggled with coordination and logistics, and Niger’s exit could
worsen insecurity for civilians in the region. The junta’s recent actions—including
suspending the constitution, dissolving political parties, and introducing new
economic measures like a levy on ECOWAS imports—signal a shift toward new
alliances and reduced Western influence.
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