TL/DR –
Niger’s military junta has cancelled a military agreement that allowed US military and civilian staff to operate in the country, citing violations of diplomatic protocol and a lack of information about US personnel and equipment in the country. The US has about 1,100 troops in Niger and operates two bases, including a drone base used to target Islamic State and al-Qaida affiliates. The cancellation follows a visit by US officials, who allegedly failed to inform Niger about the nature of the visit, and comes after the junta, which seized power in July 2023, ejected French and European forces and sought support from Russia.
Niger Ends Military Accord with US
Niger’s governing military junta has immediately revoked an agreement allowing US military personnel and civilian staff in the country.
As of 2023, around 1,100 US troops were stationed in Niger, operating from two military bases, including a $100m drone base, Airbase 201. The base has been utilized since 2018 to target Islamic State militants and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), an al-Qaida affiliate, in the Sahel region.
According to Col Amadou Abdramane on Niger television, the recent visit by US officials led by Molly Phee, assistant secretary of state for African affairs, and Gen Michael Langley, commander of the US Africa command, failed to follow diplomatic protocol. Niger was not informed about the delegation’s composition, arrival date, or agenda.
Discussions focused on Niger’s military transition, military cooperation with the US, and Niger’s choice of partners in combating militants linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State.
The Niger junta, echoing the actions of neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, has expelled French and other European forces and sought support from Russia since executing a coup in July 2023.
Abdramane said, “Niger regrets the intention of the American delegation to deny the sovereign Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and types of partnerships in the fight against terrorism.” He denounced the condescending attitude and threats of retaliation from the head of the American delegation.
While Abdramane didn’t explicitly ask US forces to leave, he alleged that their presence was illegal, violating constitutional and democratic rules as it was unilaterally imposed in 2012. He claimed that Niger was unaware of the number of US personnel or the amount of equipment deployed on its soil.
“Therefore, the government of Niger revokes the agreement concerning the status of United States military personnel and civilian employees of the American department of defence on the territory of the Republic of Niger,” stated Abdramane.
The US defence department has yet to comment on the situation.
Besides the Agadez base, the US has spent years and hundreds of millions of dollars training Niger’s military, some of whom participated in the July overthrow of Niger’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum.
In October, the US officially labeled the military takeover as a coup, triggering laws limiting the military support and aid it can provide to Niger. However, in December, Molly Phee indicated that the US was prepared to restore aid and security ties under certain conditions.
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