Niamey summons EU chargé d’affaires over remarks on Algerian army
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on La Nouvelle Tribune
Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine received the EU chargé d’affaires, Olaï Voionmaa, on 9 November 2026, after remarks by the European spokesperson that were judged condescending. According to the official Nigerien statement, those remarks concerned the deployment of Algerian army units in Niger.
The Nigerien government issued an official statement after receiving the interim chargé d’affaires of the European Union delegation, Olaï Voionmaa, at the office of Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine on Monday 9 November. Niamey says it is “once again” indignant at persistent EU interference and describes the remarks of European spokesperson Anouar El Anouni as “unfortunate and irresponsible”.
Niger recalls that its agreements with Algeria were concluded “in complete freedom and responsibility” and asks “by what right” Brussels demands accountability for this cooperation. Not an EU member, it says it does “not need Brussels’ permission” to exercise its sovereignty, and it now demands “clarifications” on interference it considers “repeated and disrespectful”.
The summons follows remarks made on 30 October at the European Commission’s press briefing, where the spokesperson asked about the scope, objective and legal basis of the deployment of Algerian army units in Niger. The APS, the official Algerian news agency, disputed those remarks on 8 November. The disagreement is also part of a series of tensions: on 12 March 2026, Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangaré had already summoned the interim chargé d’affaires, Nicoletta Avella, to hand her a letter of protest.
