Molly Phee, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, was in Niamey to meet Niger’s military leaders

The US intends to resume security and development cooperation with Niger as long as the military administration takes steps to restore democracy, an American diplomat said Wednesday.

Molly Phee, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, briefed journalists in the Nigerien capital Niamey following a meeting with the military leaders who overthrew an elected president in July.

Phee said she had been “clear” with Niger’s ruling military council — known as the CNSP — that “we want to be good partners with Niger again, and the CNSP must also be a good partner to the US.”

“In our discussions, I confirmed the intent of the United States to resume security and development cooperation in phases, reciprocally as the CNSP takes actions.”

The US’s plans were announced days after Niger and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in the field of defense during a visit to Niamey by Russia’s Deputy Minister of Defense Yunus-bek Yevkurov.

It also came against the backdrop of the recent cancellation by Niger’s military of two security and defense partnerships with the European Union.

Analysts say the US and other Western powers are contending with the fact that Russia seems to be outmaneuvering them in the region, a move which has to be countered.

Russia has been deepening military ties with military juntas in West Africa, including Mali and Burkina Faso.