By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The German government on Wednesday hinted that troops from the country may participate as part of the European Union military mission in Niger, a source told Reuters following a cabinet decision.
Niger is seen as at risk of a possible spillover of violence from neighbouring Mali, where Islamist militants have been gaining ground after the withdrawal of French and other European forces.
The planned deployment of 60 soldiers to Niger is part of an EU operation designed to support the government in Niamey in the build-up of its forces.
The parliament is expected to vote in April for participation of the troops in the operation.
The EU decided in December to set up a three-year military mission to Niger. Some 50-100 European troops at first, and up to 300 at a later stage, are to help the country improve its logistics and infrastructure.
The German military had been training Niger’s special forces with about 150 soldiers since 2018 but wrapped up that mission at the end of 2022.
There are still some 1,100 German troops based in neighbouring Mali, most of them near the northern town of Gao, where their main task is to gather reconnaissance for a U.N. peacekeeping mission.
This mission has been plagued by recurring disputes with Mali’s ruling military junta and an increasing Russian military presence there that has prompted unease in the West.
