The ruling military junta in Niger has revoked its status of forces agreement with the United States, ordering approximately 1,000 American troops to leave the country.
The development comes just days after a high-level US delegation, including senior State Department and Pentagon officials, visited the capital Niamey to express concerns over Niger’s growing ties with Russia and Iran. During the visit, the US delegation raised alarms about a potential agreement that could grant Iran access to Niger’s uranium reserves.
The future of the US military presence in Niger had been uncertain since the military junta seized power in late July, detaining the country’s president and taking control of the government. While the State Department initially hesitated to label the takeover as a coup, it eventually did so in October, leading to a cutback in US aid, with the exception of humanitarian assistance.
Col. Amadou Abdramane, Niger’s military spokesman, said on national television that the American presence in the country is illegal and violates constitutional and democratic principles, as the sovereign people were not consulted on the installation of a foreign army on its territory.
Following a day of bad press on the matter, the United States has since said that it is working with Niger diplomatically on the matter, with the Department of Defense saying it is currently “working through diplomatic channels to seek clarification,” and that discussions are reportedly “ongoing.”
“The lengthy and direct discussions included an exchange of views on how to chart a new path of cooperation forward, emphasizing the importance of respecting Niger’s sovereignty, and concerns from both sides,” commented Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh.
The ousting of US troops from Niger is a significant setback for American efforts in the Sahel region, where the US had opened a $110 million base in northern Niger just six years ago to conduct surveillance drone operations.
Niger’s decision follows a similar trend in the region, with countries like Mali and Burkina Faso also turning to Russia as a partner over Western nations.
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