US Agrees To Withdraw Troops From Niger, Clearing Path For Russia
US officials have stated that the United States has agreed to Niger’s request to withdraw US troops from the West African country.
During a meeting, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine committed to initiating conversations in Niamey to plan an orderly and responsible withdrawal of US troops from Niger.
Last year, more than 1,000 US troops were stationed in Niger, operating from two bases. Among these bases was Air Base 201, a notable $100 million drone facility situated near Agadez in central Niger.
Since 2018, the base has targeted Islamic State militants and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen, an al-Qaeda affiliate, in the Sahel region.
Last year, Niger’s army staged a coup, seizing power. Until then, Niger had remained a key security partner of the United States and France.
Niger’s recent leadership change has triggered a significant realignment of alliances. The new governments, mirroring actions taken by neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, have terminated military partnerships with Western nations such as the US and France.
They have also disengaged from the regional economic bloc ECOWAS and pursued closer ties with Russia. These developments have prompted the US to accept Niger’s request for troop withdrawal.
Last month, Niger’s ruling junta announced the immediate revocation of a military agreement permitting the presence of military personnel and civilian staff from the US Department of Defense on its soil.
Following the ruling junta’s announcement, the Pentagon stated it was seeking clarification on the next steps. It confirmed that the US government engaged in “direct and candid” discussions in Niger prior to the junta’s decision and remained in communication with Niger’s ruling military council.
Last week, hundreds of protestors rallied in Niger’s capital, demanding the withdrawal of US troops. This came after the ruling junta’s pivot in strategy, which included terminating the military agreement with the United States and welcoming Russian military instructors.
The region has witnessed eight coups in West and Central Africa over the past four years, raising concerns about democracy erosion in countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
