The United States and Niger are in discussions to withdraw American troops from the West African nation, bringing an end to more than a decade of U.S. military presence in the country. Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder confirmed the discussions, stating that a small delegation from the Pentagon and U.S. Africa Command will participate in the talks. The U.S. will continue to work with nations in the region to address terrorist threats, but has not yet announced a timeline for the withdrawal of more than 1,000 military personnel stationed at an American drone base near Agadez, Niger.
Niger’s ruling military junta, which took power in July 2023, recently announced the immediate revocation of a 2012 military cooperation deal with the U.S. following contentious meetings in the Nigerian capital of Niamey. The American delegation raised concerns about Niger’s potential relationships with Russia and Iran, as well as the status of U.S. forces in the country. The junta’s spokesperson accused the U.S. of being condescending and trying to deny the sovereign Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and partnerships in fighting terrorism.
France, Niger’s former colonizer, also withdrew French troops from the country in response to the junta’s demands amid a changing geopolitical landscape in Africa’s Sahel region. Niger has been a key ally to the U.S., France, and other Western nations in combating Islamist militants in the Sahel. However, with the country moving to sever ties with these nations, it has turned to Russia for security assistance. Earlier this month, a paramilitary unit from Russia’s newly established African Corps arrived in Niger to develop military cooperation and train Nigerien military personnel.
The commander of the U.S. African Command, Gen. Michael Langley, warned of Russia’s growing influence in the Sahel and noted that several countries in the region are at the tipping point of being captured by the Russian Federation. Russia has reaffirmed its commitment to helping African countries strengthen their sovereignty and security. As the U.S. considers withdrawing troops from Niger, Russia’s involvement in the region is becoming increasingly significant. The situation in Niger underscores a shifting dynamic in the Sahel region, with traditional Western allies being replaced by new partnerships with countries like Russia.
The decision to withdraw American troops from Niger comes as the junta’s government seeks to redefine its relationships with foreign powers and address security threats in the region. The U.S. withdrawal also reflects the changing geopolitical landscape in Africa’s Sahel region, where Russia’s influence is on the rise. As Niger moves towards partnerships with countries like Russia, it is distancing itself from its previous alliances with Western nations. The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Niger marks the end of an era of American military presence in the country and highlights the country’s shifting priorities in addressing security challenges in the Sahel.
