Niger is the latest African country to cut ties with the US military and other Western forces

In a swift move that sent tremors through U.S. foreign relations in West Africa, Niger’s military junta ended an agreement that allowed U.S. military personnel to operate in its country.

The announcement, made by junta spokesman Col. Amadou Abdramane in a televised speech on March 16, got here days after an official visit to the capital of Niamey by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Molly Phee and Gen. Michael E. Langley, the head of U.S. military operations in Africa.

“American presence in the territory of the Republic of Niger is illegal” – Abdramane he statedadding that it “violates all constitutional and democratic principles that would require consultation with a sovereign nation – especially through its elected officials – regarding the deployment of a foreign military to its territory.”

Additionally, the junta has condemned “a condescending attitude accompanied by threats of retaliation from the head of the American delegation against the government and people of Niger.”

U.S. officials have previously expressed concerns about Niger’s political direction on domestic and foreign affairs.

At a March 18 news conference hosted by White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the official referred to the U.S. delegation’s visit to Niamey before the junta’s announcement and asserted that the United States’ goal was to “explore how we are able to chart a typical path forward and our concerns about the lack of progress towards a democratic transition and operational considerations in order that we are able to maintain a long-term security partnership.”

The “democratic transition” likely refers to Niger’s domestic politics and the struggle to stabilize government affairs.

In a military coup in July 2023, Niger’s army removed democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum from office and replaced him with Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, the previous commander of Nigeria’s presidential guard. The United States, a generous donor of humanitarian aid and a long-time contractor of counterterrorism operations in Niger, declared the coup illegal.

Additionally, America is monitoring Niger’s relations with other foreign powers and recent allies.

“U.S. officials have expressed concern about Niger’s potential relations with Russia and Iran,” he added. he stated Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh.

However, this evaluation was poorly received by Niger’s recent leaders, which became a part of the justification for the decision to break off military relations with the US stating that “Niger deplores the U.S. delegation’s intention to deny the sovereign Nigerian nation the right to choose partners and the types of partnerships that can truly help it in the fight against terrorism.”

The junta also condemned what the US delegation called a failure to respect diplomatic protocol. Abdramane he stated that the delegation violated diplomatic convention by not informing Niger of its composition, date of arrival or agenda.

An estimated 600 to 1,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Niger, a landlocked country on Nigeria’s northern border that also hosts two U.S. bases. Of these, U.S. Air Base 201 is a six-year-old, $110 million drone air base near Agadez tasked with monitoring jihadist activities.

Among the first U.S. officials to respond to Niger’s announcement was State Department spokesman Matthew Miller published in October: “We are aware of the CNSP’s announcement in Niger, which follows candid discussions at senior levels in Niamey this week about our concerns about the CNSP’s trajectory.” The CNSP is the Conseil National pour la sauvegarde de la patrie, the ruling military junta in Niger.

Days later, U.S. officials were reportedly in search of closed-door talks to see if they may maintain some security presence in Niger.

In terms of this trajectory, reports allude to Niger’s strengthening relations with Russia since the military coup in July 2023. Since then, senior Russian defense officials, including Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-bek Yevkurov, have visited the country to meet with the head of the junta. Similarly, junta officials visited Moscow in January to pave the way for military cooperation, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

U.S. officials were also concerned about the prospect of a secret deal with Iran that might likely give Tehran access to a few of Niger’s vast uranium reserves.

This is not the first time Niger has cut military ties with a Western nation in hopes of asserting autonomy over its internal security efforts. In December 2023, former colonial power France withdrew almost 1,500 soldiers at the request of the junta.

France, namely President Emmanuel Macron, who has long supported ousted Nigerian President Bazouma, loudly condemned the July 2023 coup. The condemnation prompted motion by Niger’s recent military rulers, who decided to make a drastic change in strategy and ordered French forces to leave Niger.

Hailed as a “new era” for Nigerians, the decision was celebrated as a break from dependence on certain Western powers. “Niger stands proud and the security of our homeland will no longer depend on foreign presence,” it alleged announced.

After years of military support, some experts fear the removal of Western-aligned troops could leave a vacuum in counterterrorism efforts in Niger and the Sahel.

As such, foreign troops from France, Italy, Germany, the United States, and the European Union were dispatched to lead counterterrorism efforts in the region and provide military training to various countries that were experiencing political and governmental upheaval.

But with recent partnerships and allies on the horizon, Niger is becoming considered one of several West African countries reassessing its ties with Western powers.

The deterioration of Burkina Faso’s relations with France has been increasing since 2022, culminating in the expulsion of the military counselor of the French embassy for “subversive activities.”

Mali also saw the gradual withdrawal of French troops following the military coup in Mali, in addition to the arrival of controversial Russian mercenaries, the Wagner Group.

Under the leadership of the Junta, Mali and Burkina Faso, in addition to Niger announced their departure from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) earlier this yr, distancing themselves from the alleged influence of external forces and “illegal, illegitimate and inhumane” sanctions that threaten to reverse their coups.

After leaving the 15-member coalition, southern countries announced the creation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which is able to provide a “path to sovereignty.” AES might be represented by leaders from each country: Ibrahim Traoré from Burkina Faso, Assimi Goïta from Mali and Abdourahamane Tiani from Niger.