Former Diplomat Rahabi Challenges EU on Niger Pact

Former Algerian diplomat Abdelaziz Rahabi has openly criticized recent statements from an EU spokesperson concerning European monitoring of Algeria's military unit deployment in Niger. Rahabi questioned Brussels' legitimacy to demand explanations for an issue he emphasized falls exclusively within the purview of two sovereign states. He expressed surprise at the EU's request for clarification, noting that such a stance departs from the prudence typically observed in European diplomacy when addressing matters outside its geographical scope. Rahabi underscored that the deployment is part of a publicly announced military agreement between Algeria and Niger, two neighboring nations whose cooperation is driven by shared interests. He further challenged the political or legal basis for the European Union to intervene, especially given that the EU is not a military organization responsible for security in the Sahel region.

Rahabi argued that the European discourse suggests Algeria should either consult Brussels in advance on its security decisions or, at minimum, justify its actions afterward. He reminded that the EU lacks the status of a military organization responsible for the Sahel. The former diplomat criticized Europe's continued adherence to what he described as outdated perceptions of Africa, rejecting any attempt by the EU to question the credibility of its partners or the sovereign processes through which states ratify international agreements. He also cautioned that such declarations from the EU could ultimately compel the bloc itself to provide explanations to Algiers regarding the scope and basis of its position, thereby defending the principle of national sovereignty and the right of Algeria and Niger to establish their bilateral cooperation without external approval.

Concurrently, Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, of the National Community Abroad, and African Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, visited Niger as a special envoy of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. During his visit, Attaf engaged in discussions with his Nigerien counterpart, Bakary Yaou Sangaré, to evaluate current bilateral relations and explore opportunities to strengthen and expand cooperation across various sectors of shared interest. Both ministers expressed satisfaction with the progress made in implementing projects and commitments agreed upon by Presidents Tebboune and Abdourahamane Tiani. They highlighted the swift execution of joint initiatives, which reflects a shared political will to energize bilateral relations and translate high-level commitments into tangible outcomes. The delegations emphasized the importance of consolidating coordination and cooperation mechanisms to foster a partnership grounded in the common interests and aspirations of the Algerian and Nigerien peoples. Attaf and Sangaré reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining close political consultation and collaborative efforts to preserve and enhance the positive dynamic currently characterizing relations between the two countries, agreeing to transform their leaders' political will into sustainable projects and tangible achievements to elevate Algerian-Nigerien cooperation to higher levels.