US Military Ordered to Exit Niger: Inside the Junta’s Strategic Decision

On March 16th, the African nation of Niger announced the termination of its military partnership with the United States, leading to a directive for approximately 1,000 U.S. military personnel to exit the nation.

This development, unveiled by the military leadership of Niger yesterday, follows discussions with representatives from the United States and the senior U.S. military official for Africa, General Michael E. Langley. This action aligns with a growing trend in the Sahel region, a dry expanse just south of the Sahara Desert, where nations are increasingly distancing themselves from Western affiliations to form alliances with other countries, notably Russia.

The decision by the military rulers of Niger comes after France, Niger’s former colonial ruler and a key player in anti-terror operations in West Africa for the last ten years, also saw its troops withdrawn from the country amid rising anti-Western sentiments in the region. Colonel Amadou Abdramane, a spokesperson for Niger’s military, declared on national television that the American military’s presence was unauthorized and in violation of Niger’s constitutional and democratic principles, which demand that the nation’s duly elected representatives approve such foreign military engagements.

The statement from Niger’s National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), which oversees the military government, was made public following candid conversations in Niamey about the concerns the U.S. had regarding the CNSP’s direction, according to Matthew Miller, the State Department’s chief spokesman. Despite the military coup that positioned the junta in power and sidelined President Mohamed Bazoum, the U.S. has sought to maintain its cooperative relationship with Niger.

Niger’s military government ordered US forces to leave the country immediately! pic.twitter.com/7nTckWS6MP

— Phyu Lay (@PhyuLay60937915) March 17, 2024

Although the military coup necessitated a suspension of U.S. security operations and aid to Niger, American military personnel, many of whom are stationed at the strategically important U.S. Air Base 201 in northern Niger, have continued surveillance operations to safeguard U.S. forces and provide timely terrorist threat intelligence to Nigerien authorities.

Analysts suggest that Niger’s cancellation of the security agreement may not directly equate to an outright expulsion of U.S. military presence, as occurred with the French, but could represent a strategic move by the junta to negotiate more favorable terms. The junta’s decision has been framed as a stand for national sovereignty amid assertions that the true aim of U.S. policy in the region is not to combat armed groups but to counter the influence of Russia, China, and Turkey.

Efforts by American officials to prevent a complete severance of ties with Niger’s junta have been ongoing for months, with Kathleen FitzGibbon, the new U.S. ambassador to Niger and a leading Africa specialist, regularly engaging with the junta leaders. The potential repercussions of losing access to military bases in Niger extend beyond the immediate impact on counterterrorism efforts to broader implications for America’s influence in Africa.

This significant policy shift by Niger’s junta reflects a broader recalibration of power dynamics, marking a departure from the past decade during which Niger actively sought security assistance and aid. Critics argue that the approach of Western nations, including the U.S. and France, has been too detached from the needs and perspectives of African governments and civilians, perpetuating a perception of Western engagement as a continuation of colonial-era priorities.