Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine
In explaining why Niger decided to kick out U.S. troops, Niger’s prime minister, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, tells Rachel Chason, West African bureau chief for Washington Post, that U.S. officials tried to dictate which countries Niger could partner with in a manner he viewed as disrespectful:
He said the Nigerièn leaders took particular umbrage at remarks by Molly Phee, the State Department’s top official for African affairs, who he said had urged the government during a March visit to Niamey to refrain from engaging with Iran and Russia in ways objectionable to Washington if Niger wanted to continue its security relationship with the United States. He also said Phee had further threatened sanctions if Niger pursued a deal to sell uranium to Iran.
“When she finished, I said, ‘Madame, I am going to summarise in two points what you have said,’” recounted Zeine, who has led negotiations with the United States. “First, you have come here to threaten us in our country. That is unacceptable. And you have come here to tell us with whom we can have relationships, which is also unacceptable. And you have done it all with a condescending tone and a lack of respect.”
In response to Zeine’s comments, a U.S. official said: “The message … was a coordinated U.S. government position, delivered in a professional manner, in response to valid concerns about developments in Niger.
According to the official, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) was “presented with a choice, not an ultimatum, about whether they wished to continue their partnership with us, respectful of our democratic values and national security interests.”
Parts of the report are excerpts from the Washington Post
