Eight months following France’s military cooperation suspension in Niger, the ruling military junta announced the revocation of a military accord with the United States, effectively halting the presence of U.S. military personnel and civilian staff in the country. The decision was issued by military spokesman Colonel Amadou Abdramane on national television this past Saturday.
The military accord enabled U.S. military and civilian defense staff to operate from Niger, a vital position in Africa’s Sahel region. As of 2023, between 650 and 1100 U.S. personnel operated from two facilities in Niger, notably the $100 million drone base “airbase 201,” which had been used since 2018 to combat extremism.
The decision comes as a response to what the junta perceives as a breach of diplomatic protocol by a recent U.S. senior officials delegation visit, led by Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee and U.S. Africa Command head General Michael Langley, to the West African nation.
Colonel Abdramane stated that the U.S. delegation violated diplomatic rules by failing to alert Niger of the delegation, arrival date, and agenda of its visit.
The visit’s discussions revolved around Niger’s ongoing military reform, military cooperation with the U.S., and the country’s choice of allies in confronting terrorist groups linked with al-Qaida and the Islamic State.
Colonel Abdramane reiterated Niger’s right to decide on its partners and condemned the American delegation’s condescending attitude, including alleged threats of retaliation.
Abdramane also underscored the obvious illegality of US forces’ presence on Nigerien soil, adding that the deal authorizing their presence was unilaterally imposed in 2012, without Niger’s full approval.