EU says it respects Algeria’s sovereignty over its troops in Niger
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Algérie 360
European External Action Service spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said on Tuesday 10 November that the deployment of the Algerian army in Niger is a matter for the bilateral relationship between Algiers and Niamey. The EU says it fully respects the sovereignty of both countries and has no intention of interfering, according to Algérie360, in contrast with his remarks of 30 October.
European External Action Service spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said on Tuesday 10 November in front of the press that the European Union "fully respects the sovereignty of both nations and has no intention of interfering", according to Algérie 360. He added that "the Algerian decision to deploy troops in Niger is a matter for the bilateral relationship between Algeria and Niger".
The spokesperson also denied any official approach: the EU "has at no time had the intention of asking either of its two partners for clarification of their bilateral commitment", he insisted. This differs from his statement of 30 October, in which he referred to the need to know the legal basis for the mission.
The initial statements had drawn criticism in Algeria. Former minister Abdelaziz Rahabi and the Workers' Party had seen them as an attack on the country’s sovereignty. The APS agency had denied the previous weekend the existence of any note verbale or written approach from Brussels.
This clarification follows Algiers' denial of 8 November. The same day, Niamey had judged the EU’s remarks "unacceptable" concerning the Algerian troops.
