Niger’s ruling military government has announced that it has immediately canceled a military agreement that allowed U.S. military personnel and civilian personnel to stay in the country.
As of 2023, there are approximately 1,100 U.S. troops stationed in Niger, including a drone base known as Air Base 201, built at a cost of more than $100 million near Agadez in central Niger. It operates from two bases. Since 2018, the base has been used to target Islamic State militants and al-Qaeda affiliate Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) in the Sahel region.
The junta’s announcement followed a visit this week by U.S. officials led by Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Fee and including Gen. Michael Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command. Col. Amadou Abdullahmane said on Nigerien television on Saturday that the U.S. delegation did not follow diplomatic protocol and that Niger was not informed of the delegation’s composition, arrival date or agenda.
He added that the discussion centered on the current military transition in Niger, military cooperation between the two countries, and Niger’s choice of partners in the fight against extremists linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Since taking power in July 2023, Niger’s military junta, like those in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, has ousted French and other European forces and turned to Russia for support.
“Niger deplores the intent of the U.S. delegation to deny the sovereign Nigerian people the right to choose partners and partnerships that can truly support the fight against terrorism,” Abdullahmane said.
“The Government of Niger also strongly condemns the condescending attitude of the head of the American delegation, accompanied by threats of retaliation against the Government and people of Niger.”
Mr. Abdullahman never said that U.S. troops should withdraw. However, he argued that their status and presence was illegal and unilaterally imposed in 2012, thus violating the constitution and democratic rules.
He said Niger does not know the number of U.S. servicemen and military personnel on its territory or the amount of equipment deployed, and that, according to the agreement, the U.S. military is not obligated to respond to any requests for assistance from insurgents. said.
“In light of all of the above, the Government of Niger immediately terminates the Agreement regarding the status of U.S. military personnel and U.S. Department of Defense civilian personnel on the territory of the Republic of Niger,” Abdrahman said.
The U.S. Department of Defense did not respond to a request for comment.
Apart from Agadez Air Base, the United States has invested hundreds of millions of dollars over the years in training Niger’s military. Some of these forces were involved in the overthrow of Niger’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, in July.
In October, the U.S. government formally recognized the military takeover as a coup, triggering a U.S. law that limits the military aid and aid the U.S. can provide to Niger. But in December, Mr. Fee said the United States was ready to restore aid and security ties if Niger met certain conditions.
From Associated Press and Reuters
