The Pentagon is working with Nigerien authorities to find a way to keep U.S. troops in the country, a key hub for counterterrorism operations in sub-Saharan Africa, following weekend orders to leave the country.
Last week, a high-level delegation of U.S. government officials, including Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Fee, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander, and Gen. Michael Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command, visited Niger. I had a meeting with A member of the military government.
Pentagon deputy spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Monday that U.S. officials had “long and direct” discussions with military junta officials, including concerns about Niger’s potential ties to Russia and Iran. He also said that he was partly encouraged by this.
Niger military junta leads joint security effort against extremist violence
“We were troubled by the path Niger was taking,” Singh said.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the United States is “closely monitoring Russian defense activities” on the ground to “assess and mitigate potential risks to U.S. personnel, interests, and assets.” said.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (right) speaks during a meeting with Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds (not pictured) at the Pentagon on Thursday, March 14, 2024 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolfe)
On Saturday after the talks, junta spokesman Maj. Amadou Abdraman said U.S. flights over Niger territory in recent weeks were illegal. Meanwhile, Insa Garba Saidou, a local activist who helps communicate with Niger’s military junta, criticized US efforts to force the junta to choose between strategic partners.
“U.S. military bases and civilians can no longer remain on Nigerian territory,” he told The Associated Press.
Singh said the United States is “aware of the March 16 statement announcing the termination of the Status of Forces Agreement between Niger and the United States. We are seeking clarification through diplomatic channels. These are ongoing discussions. And it doesn’t get any better than that.” Please share at this time. ”
State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said the discussion was prompted by Niger’s “trajectory.”
“We are in touch with the transition authorities to seek clarification of their comments and to discuss further next steps,” Patel said.
A military junta has largely held power in Niger since July, when rebel soldiers ousted the country’s democratically elected president and months later demanded that French troops leave.
The U.S. military still had about 650 troops operating in Niger in December, most of them in bases far from the country’s capital, Niamey. Singh said the total number of personnel still in the country, including civilians and contractors, is about 1,000.
Although the Niger base is critical to U.S. counterterrorism operations in the Sahel region and is used for both manned and unmanned surveillance operations, Singh said the only drone flights currently being conducted are for armed protection. Stated.
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In the Sahel region, the United States has also provided support by accompanying local ground forces on missions. But these ancillary missions have been curtailed since a U.S. soldier was killed in a joint operation in Niger in 2017.
