Niamey_ Two armed groups in neighboring Niger declared Wednesday their commitment to the peaceful path by surrendering their weapons, in an initiative to end violence and establish the foundations of peace and coexistence, the Libyan News Agency LANA reported.
LANA quoted African news websites as saying that the process of surrendering weapons and ammunition by the two armed groups took place in the presence of the governor of the Agadir region General Issa Ibra Boulama.
General Boulama addressed the rebels and the Nigerien people on the occasion and appealed to the remaining armed groups to surrender their weapons, renounce violence and engage in the peaceful path.
Two weeks ago, several dozen militants were reported to be willing to stop the armed struggle including Patriotic Liberation Front (FPL), a rebel group that was formed in August 2023 after the military coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. According to the Nigerien media, these individuals decided to respond to the “Call of the Fatherland.”
Meanwhile,The EU recalled its envoy Salvador Pinto da Franca after Niger’s military rulers accused him of distributing €1.3 million in flood relief to NGOs without prior approval. The EU rejected the allegations, expressing “profound disagreement,” Africanews reported.
Niger’s foreign ministry claimed da Franca continued “unauthorized operations” despite warnings issued in October. In a statement, it said collaboration with the ambassador was no longer viable and requested his replacement “as soon as possible.”
Flooding since June has killed over 300 people and displaced more than 1.1 million in Niger. The government stated it had not sought EU aid and would address the damage using its own resources.
Relations between Niger and the EU have soured since the July 2023 military coup, with the country distancing itself from its former colonial power, France, and the European bloc.