In a recent announcement on state television, the leaders of Niger declared that the presence of the U.S. military in their country is no longer necessary. This statement came after discussions were held with U.S. diplomatic and military representatives earlier in the week.
Niger has been a key player in the U.S. military’s strategy in the Sahel region of Africa, hosting a significant airbase. The U.S. has expressed worries about the increasing jihadist violence in the area, noting that local factions have aligned themselves with al-Qaida and the Islamic State.
The spokesperson for the junta, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, did not explicitly state that U.S. forces must exit. However, he mentioned that Niger is pausing its military collaboration with the U.S. He also highlighted that recent U.S. flights over Niger were unauthorized.
The U.S. has been operating a large airbase in Agadez, Niger, located about 550 miles from the capital, Niamey. This base has been used for both manned and unmanned surveillance missions among other activities.
Furthermore, the U.S. has invested significantly in training the military forces of Niger over the years. Notably, some of these trained forces played a role in the July coup that ousted Niger’s democratically elected president, Mohammed Bazoum.
Following the coup in July, the U.S. identified the military takeover as a coup in October, leading to restrictions on military support and aid to Niger as per U.S. laws. However, in December, the U.S. expressed its willingness to renew aid and security connections if Niger met specific conditions.
The spokesperson for the Niger junta criticized the U.S. for what he perceived as a patronizing attitude that threatened Niger’s sovereignty. Since the coup, Niger has terminated its security agreement with the European Union, and France has pulled its troops out of the country.
Molly Phee, the top U.S. envoy for Africa, and Marine Gen. Michael Langley, leader of the U.S. military’s African Command, visited Niamey this week for discussions with senior officials of the Niger government. Phee has not commented on these developments.
As of December, there were approximately 650 U.S. military personnel stationed in Niger, as reported to Congress.
This report includes contributions from Jessica Donati, an Associated Press writer based in Dakar, Senegal.