Niger Suspends Military Agreement with US, Dealing Blow to Security Interests in Sahel Region
In a surprising move, Niger has suspended its military agreement with the United States “with immediate effect”, dealing a blow to US security interests in the region. The pact allowed US military personnel and civilian defence staff to operate from Niger, which plays a central role in the US military’s operations in Africa’s Sahel region and is home to a major airbase.
The decision, announced by ruling military spokesman Colonel Amadou Abdramane on Saturday, came after senior US officials visited the West African country earlier in the week to discuss democratic transition. However, Abdramane stated that the US delegation did not follow diplomatic protocol and did not inform Niger about the composition of the delegation, the date of its arrival, or the agenda.
“Niger regrets the intention of the American delegation to deny the sovereign Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and types of partnerships capable of truly helping them fight against terrorism,” Abdramane said in a statement on local television.
The US military had around 650 personnel working in Niger in December, operating from a major airbase in the city of Agadez. The base, known as Air Base 201, was built at a cost of over $100 million and has been used for surveillance flights and operations targeting ISIL and al-Qaeda affiliates in the Sahel region.
The suspension of the military agreement is seen as a significant blow to US interests in the region, with Al Jazeera correspondent Shihab Rattansi reporting from Washington, DC that Niger is the center of US operations in West and North Africa.
Last October, the US officially designated the military takeover in Niger as a coup. Despite this, the US envoy for Africa expressed willingness to restore aid and security ties if Niger met certain conditions. However, the delegation accused Niger of partnering with Russia and Iran on “secret” deals, which the government denies.
The military government in Niger strongly denounced the US delegation’s attitude and threats of retaliation, stating that they are in touch with the ruling military council and will provide further updates as warranted.
Niger has been under military rule since July 2023, following the detention of President Mohamed Bazoum by an elite guard force. Like neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger has also expelled French and other European forces and turned to Russia for support.