Niger’s military junta and the United States are discussing the departure of American troops stationed in the West African nation. This comes after Niger announced on March 23rd that it was withdrawing from a 2012 military cooperation agreement with Washington.
According to Niger’s interior ministry, U.S. Ambassador Kathleen FitzGibbon met with Interior Minister General Mohamed Toumba on Wednesday to address the issue. The ministry’s statement indicates that the U.S. has acknowledged Niger’s decision and will propose a plan for the “disengagement” of over 1,000 American troops currently stationed in the country.
This development follows a three-day visit by a U.S. delegation earlier in March aimed at re-establishing ties with the junta. Niger’s move to sever the cooperation agreement came amidst tensions with the U.S. In mid-March, Niger declared the 2012 agreement “unilaterally imposed” by Washington.
The U.S. military presence in Niger is centered around a large drone base used to combat jihadist activity plaguing the West African region. Since seizing power in a July 2023 coup, General Abdourahamane Tiani’s regime has sought to distance itself from Western powers. This includes the expulsion of French troops, a former colonial power, and a strategic shift towards Russia.
Niger’s military partnership with Russia mirrors similar moves by its neighbors, Mali and Burkina Faso. These three nations have formed a joint defense pact and exited the regional West African bloc ECOWAS. Further strengthening ties with Moscow, General Tiani held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 26th to discuss “strengthening” security agreements. A Russian delegation also visited Niger in December 2023. The withdrawal of U.S. troops and Niger’s deepening relationship with Russia mark a significant shift in the geopolitical landscape of West Africa.
