The Pentagon is currently engaging with Nigerien officials to negotiate the continuation of U.S. troops’ presence in Niger, after the country’s military junta issued a directive for their departure. This comes as a pivotal moment for U.S. counterterrorism operations in sub-Saharan Africa. Last week, a high-level U.S. delegation, including notable figures such as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander, and U.S. Africa Command head Gen. Michael Langley, met with the junta in an effort to discuss the future of American military operations in the region.
The meetings, described as “lengthy and direct” by Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh, were partly motivated by concerns over Niger’s potential engagements with Russia and Iran. The U.S. has expressed apprehensions about the direction Niger is heading, with White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre highlighting close monitoring of Russian defense activities in Niger to assess and mitigate risks to U.S. personnel and interests.
The junta’s spokesperson, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, labeled recent U.S. flights over Niger as illegal, intensifying the standoff. The situation escalated when local activist Insa Garba Saidou, who assists the junta with communications, declared that American bases and personnel could no longer remain on Nigerien soil. This statement followed the junta’s announcement on March 16, signaling the end of the status of forces agreement between Niger and the United States, prompting the U.S. to seek diplomatic channels for clarification.
These developments have cast a shadow over U.S. military efforts in the Sahel, a region plagued by jihadi insurgencies linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. The U.S. has historically supported local ground troops and conducted both manned and unmanned surveillance operations from a major airbase in northern Niger. However, the suspension of military cooperation by Niger’s junta, which took power in July after ousting the democratically elected president, puts these operations at risk. The decision to end cooperation was not clearly explained, but criticism from junta officials suggests dissatisfaction with U.S. pressure and possibly a pivot towards alternative strategic partnerships, such as with Russia.
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