U.S Base to Close, All U.S. Troops to Leave Niger

All U.S. troops are set to withdraw from Niger, marking the end of their involvement in combating Islamist insurgents in the region. The decision comes as military leaders in the West African nation have pursued closer ties with Russia since seizing power in a coup last year.

The announcement follows talks in Washington between U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine. The move is seen as a significant blow to the Biden administration, which had resisted the withdrawal.

The decision also entails the closure of the U.S. drone base near Agadez in the Sahara desert, a key asset in monitoring regional jihadist activity. The base, constructed just six years ago at a cost of $100 million, played a crucial role in U.S. and French efforts to combat jihadists in West Africa.

Niger’s relations with Western countries deteriorated last year following the coup, prompting military leaders to seek closer security ties with Russia. In recent weeks, dozens of Russian military instructors arrived in Niger, accompanied by a state-of-the-art air defence system, according to state media reports.

In addition to strengthening ties with Russia, Niger has distanced itself from neighbouring democracies and forged stronger regional alliances with fellow junta-led nations Burkina Faso and Mali. The trio has withdrawn from Ecowas, the West African regional body, citing its opposition to their military takeovers. They have also abandoned the French-backed G5 Sahel force, criticising its effectiveness and asserting that it undermines African sovereignty. Instead, they have established their own defence pact called the Alliance of Sahel States.

The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Niger underscores a shifting geopolitical landscape in the Sahel region and reflects a broader trend of African nations reassessing their security partnerships and alliances.