Niger has announced the termination of a military agreement with the United States, effectively demanding the withdrawal of American military personnel and civilian staff associated with the Department of Defense from its territory. This move comes after discussions with US diplomatic and military officials, highlighting a deteriorating relationship between the two countries since a military junta assumed power in Niger in July 2023. The agreement, signed in 2012, has been criticized by the Nigerien military government for being “profoundly unfair” and in violation of the nation’s sovereignty, according to Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane, a military spokesperson for Niger.
The termination of this accord has major implications for the United States’ strategic interests in the Sahel region, particularly in counterterrorism efforts. The Pentagon had previously emphasized the importance of maintaining a military presence in Niger to combat terrorism. At the time of the announcement, approximately 648 US military personnel were reported to be deployed in Niger, down from 1,100, following the United States’ formal designation of the July 2023 power takeover as a coup.
The decision also came on the heels of a visit by a senior US delegation, which, according to Abdramane, did not adhere to diplomatic norms, further straining relations. The Nigerien government accused the US delegation of undermining Niger’s right to select its partners freely and criticized what it described as a condescending attitude from the United States.
This move aligns with a broader trend in the Sahel region, where countries are increasingly questioning the motives of Western military presence and seeking alternatives, including partnerships with Russia. The cancellation of the military cooperation with the US follows similar steps taken by other nations in the region and the departure of French troops from Niger, who had led foreign counterterrorism efforts for a decade.
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