The city of Johannesburg— The United States military, which has spent over a decade and invested over $1 billion in Niger, has reached an agreement to withdraw its over 1,000 forces from the West African nation within the coming months. The United States had not intended to take this action, and according to officials who spoke with CBS News, it will severely undermine counterterrorism efforts in a region where a number of significant and expanding threats are recognized.
Niger is a landlocked nation bordered by several unstable neighboring countries, wherein indigenous militias have allied with transnational terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda and ISIS.
A senior U.S. military official with prior experience stationed in Niger expressed to CBS News that the impending withdrawal would have severe consequences for regional counterterrorism endeavors and the future of peace in the area as a whole.
“Our soldiers have worked for years building the capacity and providing training to regional forces,” according to the representative. “This is a tough blow on all levels.”
In multiple dialogues with U.S. officials subsequent to a military coup in July 2023, Niger’s leaders unequivocally expressed their lack of interest in American assistance in facilitating the nation’s transition to democratic elections. Instead, they expressed a preference for utilizing the services of Russia for security purposes and potentially reaching an agreement with Iran regarding Niger’s uranium reserves.
The U.S. attempts to counter the expanding influence of Russia and China in Africa.
General Michael Langley, director of the United States military’s Africa Command, cautioned members of the United States Congress in March that “a number of countries are on the precipice of Russian Federation capture.”
Langley traveled to Niger days prior to his testimony on Capitol Hill in order to confer with the junta leaders of the country. The meeting failed to satisfy the expectations of U.S. officials, and Niger military spokesman Amadou Abdramane declared on national television that the country’s joint military agreement with the U.S. was “immediately suspended” shortly after Langley and his entourage departed.
According to U.S. military sources who spoke with CBS News, diplomatic efforts were underway to reconcile the strained relationship; however, Nigerien officials made it plain that security cooperation was untenable.
Following last year’s rebellion, the military government of Niger had already initiated the process of seeking alternative allies after expelling French forces from the country. Officials from the United States expressed concern over the Nigeriens’ expulsion of French forces, the country’s former colonial authority.
Subsequently, in January, the junta leaders of Niger reached a consensus to augment their military collaboration with Russia. Reportedly, a Russian transport aircraft, transporting one hundred Russian military trainers and a novel air defense system, touched down in the capital Niamey last week.
In the last three years alone, there have been six successful coups in the region surrounding Niger. The governing juntas of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea have all expressed their support for the newly elected military leaders of Niger.
Burkina Faso and Mali were the first nations to seek military training and support from the Russian mercenary organization formerly known as the Wagner Group.
A few of Niger’s coup commanders, according to sources consulted by CBS News, had previously participated in U.S. military exercises conducted across the continent.
The United States is estimated to have spent over $1 billion over the course of a decade or so constructing two drone bases and a new embassy in Niger. The approximately 1,100 U.S. forces stationed at the Niger bases have been indispensable to U.S. operations in the volatile Sahel region, which spans the entirety of northern Africa.
In 2017, nearly all Americans were made cognizant of U.S. special forces operations in Niger subsequent to the fatal ambush of four U.S. soldiers by ISIS militants outside the municipality of Tongo Tongo.
A serving member of the United States military in Niger detailed the conditions for himself and his comrades in an email to House Speaker Mike Johnson last week. The email stated that since the coup, they had been instructed to “sit and hold,” which prevented them from carrying out their mission.
The soldier stated in the letter, which Representative Matt Gaetz published online, that American forces in Niger were “held hostage” in a country that had unequivocally declared them unwelcome.
On a recurring basis, Nigerians have gathered in Niamey on weekends to demand the urgent withdrawal of American troops. One such protest poster reads, “US Army, You vanish when you depart.”
An additional U.S. delegation is anticipated to pay a visit to Niger in the near future to deliberate on a schedule for the withdrawal, which is presumed to occur within the forthcoming months.
