American leaders are in a frenzy after the Nigerien military junta revoked a joint security agreement that could result in the removal of US troops, causing concerns about a potential decline in America’s significant presence and influence in West Africa.
Niger recently announced that it is no longer honoring the counter-terrorism agreement with the US, which has been in effect since 2012. This is seen as a setback for Washington’s efforts to combat jihadist groups in the area. Currently, there are approximately 1,000 American military and civilian individuals stationed in Niger.
In December of last year, the junta removed French soldiers after a coup in July 2023 overthrew Mohammed Bazoum, the democratically elected leader.
The termination of the US agreement may result in the shutdown of US Air Base 201, which was constructed in 2018 for $110 million in the northern region of the country. This base is used for drone surveillance of the Islamic State and affiliated groups with al-Qaida in the Sahel, a mostly dry area in the southern part of the Sahara desert that spans from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea.
The Washington administration is concerned that losing its military strongholds in Niger could lead the country to come under Russian domination, similar to what happened in Burkina Faso and Mali. The Wagner group, a private army connected to the Kremlin that was previously led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, has set up operations in these two neighboring countries, as well as in other nations across Africa.
Following the coup in Niger last July, Prigozhin released a statement expressing support for the newly formed military government and extending services from Wagner. In response, the US also reached out to the junta earlier this year through tense discussions between representatives from the state department and Pentagon. The goal was to maintain cooperation and avoid the country being influenced by Russia and Iran following the coup.
However, during an address broadcasted on national television on March 15th, the spokesperson for the junta, Colonel Amadou Abdramane, stated that the presence of the US in Niger was “illegal” and portrayed the visit by Molly Phee, the assistant secretary of state for African affairs, as unhelpful.
Abdramane stated that the military government strongly condemns the disrespectful behavior and potential retribution threatened by the leader of the American delegation towards the government and people of Niger.
According to US officials, Niger had been accused of engaging in talks to grant Iran access to its uranium reserves. This could potentially enable Tehran to grow its nuclear program. The comments were a response to these allegations.
Abdramane stated that the government of Niger denies the baseless accusations made by the American delegation leader regarding a secret uranium agreement with Iran. He also announced the immediate termination of the security treaty.
American officials allege they have observed a potential willingness in Niger’s position, indicating that the military’s strict stance may be willing to discuss.
General Charles Q Brown, the head of the joint chiefs of staff, stated that officials from Niger gave contradictory messages after the recent announcement. During a press conference at Ramstein air base in Germany, he stated that they will continue to make arrangements and be ready for both the possibility of staying in Niger or departing from it.
The spokesman for the state department, Vedant Patel, also suggested the possibility of producing a change through ongoing diplomatic discussions.
“I am keeping communication with the CNSP [Niger’s governing military council] and asking for further explanation of their statements, while also discussing possible actions to take,” he stated during a press conference.
“We maintain communication through our embassy. Our ambassador and embassy team remain present, and we are actively discussing matters with them.”
The visit of junta’s prime minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine to Moscow in December and meeting with Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi in January are seen as a sign of US concerns about increasing Russian and Iranian influence. Discussions about military and economic partnerships were held during the visits.
Air Base 201 is one of the biggest US drone facilities in Africa and the only one in that part of the continent flying drones with intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance and strike capabilities. It is understood to have been used to carry out deadly strikes against Islamic State fighters in Libya in 2019.
This week, a representative from the Pentagon stated that the center has not been utilized for counter-terrorism efforts since the coup last year.
Gen Michael Langley, head of the US Africa Command – a member of the recent delegation to Niger – told a Senate armed services committee meeting this month that a continued US military presence in the region was necessary to counter Russian encroachment.
He stated that several countries are on the verge of falling under the control of the Russian Federation due to the spread of their misleading information in Libya. The Russian Federation is rapidly attempting to gain control over central Africa and the Sahel region.
Source: theguardian.com
