Haftar clan shifts stance on Niger following Algerian military deployment

A significant geopolitical shift has occurred in the Sahel following the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement in Benghazi between Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine and Saddam Haftar. This move represents a total pivot for the eastern Libyan faction, which had previously provided sanctuary to rebel groups opposing the Nigerien government. This sudden change is a direct result of the Algerian army's substantial deployment in the strategic northern Nigerien regions of Madama and Kafra. Faced with Algeria's military presence and pressured by Moscow to pursue de-escalation, the Haftar clan has chosen a diplomatic path. By pledging to secure the Libyan border, the Haftar camp aims to cut off support for rebels while simultaneously seeking to bolster their international standing as a legitimate state actor.