Germany deploys troops to Niger
The German government on Wednesday says it would deploy up to 60 soldiers to Niger as part of an EU operation designed to support the government in Niamey in the build-up of its forces.
The German parliament is expected to ratify the move at the end of April.
The German military had been training some 150 Nigerien soldiers since 2018 but wrapped up that mission at the end of 2022.
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.
Reuters reports that Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world and any violence in the country could spillover to neighbouring Mali, where Islamist militants have been gaining ground following the withdrawal of French and other European forces.
