The Biden administration has initiated the process of withdrawing U.S. troops from Niger, although a specific timeline for this effort has not been provided yet. Discussions have begun between the U.S. and Niger for the orderly removal of troops. While a Pentagon and U.S. Africa Command delegation is participating in these discussions, there is no clear departure timing specified as of now. The planned exit from Niger is seen as a setback for Washington in terms of staging security operations in the Sahel region.
Niger plays a crucial role in the U.S. military’s operations in Africa’s Sahel region, where there is a growing concern about the presence of jihadi violence and local groups aligning with extremist organizations like al-Qaida and the Islamic State. The U.S. has a significant air base in Agadez, Niger, which has been utilized for surveillance flights and military operations. The U.S. has also invested heavily in training Niger’s military since commencing operations in the country in 2013.
Tensions between Niger and Western countries have escalated since a group of mutinous soldiers ousted the country’s democratically elected president in July. The junta in power has asked French forces to leave and has turned to Russia for security assistance. The failure to revise the military agreement between the U.S. and Niger has led to the impending departure of U.S. troops from the country. This loss of access to air bases in Niger is a significant setback for the U.S. and its allies in the region, especially in terms of security operations.
Former U.S. special envoy for the Sahel region, Peter Pham, pointed out that the departure of U.S. troops from Niger will be challenging to replace in the short term. The remaining European Union military presence is likely to also withdraw following the news of the U.S. exit. This rupture in relations between the U.S. and Niger could impact the development and humanitarian aid funds allocated to Niger, which is already at the bottom of various well-being indicators. The departure of U.S. troops from Niger will have implications for the security landscape in the Sahel region.
In an attempt to retain a foothold in Niger, U.S. officials had been working on revising the military agreement with the country. However, the failure of these efforts led to the decision for the orderly removal of U.S. troops from Niger. The ongoing discussions between the U.S. and Niger are focused on the subsequent steps for withdrawal. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the timeline for the troop withdrawal, the Biden administration has initiated the process to remove U.S. forces from the West African country.
