Niger Ends Military Agreement with the United States
On Saturday, March 16, Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane, a representative of the junta of Niger, announced on national television that the government intended to end the existing counterterrorism partnership with the United States. The agreement, signed in 2012, previously allowed military personnel and staff from the Department of Defense to operate openly in Niger. The termination comes at the heels of high-level talks with U.S. officials, including Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee and U.S. Africa Command Head General Michael Langley.
The current military rule in Niger took authority in July 2023, following a coup, the fifth since the country gained independence from France in 1960. Niger’s presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum, as General Abdourahamane Tchiani, commander of the presidential guard, declared himself the leader of a new military junta. The 62-year-old is a highly decorated general and former military attache to Niger’s German embassy. His swift rise to power in July has been a headache for American officials and the roughly 1,000 military personnel and civilian contractors in Niger. In the immediate aftermath of Niger’s announcement ending their military agreement with the United States, Defense Department Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh announced that the U.S. had concerns over the potential for a strengthened relationship between Niger and Russia, and Iran.
Notably, 86 U.S. Senators voted to remove troops from Niger following the coup in July. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced the legislation, which gained support from both Democrats and Republicans. Paul cited confusion about the purpose of the American mission in Niger as well as the fact that Congress never voted to authorize operations in Niger. However, it seems that the United States no longer has a choice and will need to adapt to a new reality in West Africa.
General Tchiani’s commands for American forces to exit the country stem from a perceived violation of Niger’s constitution. In the statement announcing the cutting of ties between the two countries, Nigerien officials cited the “condescending attitude” of the American delegation that recently visited, saying, “The government of Niger regrets the desire of the American delegation to deny the Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and the types of partnerships capable of helping them truly fight against terrorists.” Amidst a spike in terrorist violence, senior Pentagon officials have expressed concern about the vital importance of keeping a presence in Niger for security and counter-terrorism purposes.
In testimony to the House Armed Services Committee, Celeste A. Wallander, an Assistant Secretary of Defense, explained to lawmakers that the United States was seeking a way to keep troops in Niger and was looking to clarify further with the Military Junta about what their demands exactly mean. Regardless, the threat of loss of influence to Russia is very real in this situation, as several other countries in West Africa have bowed to Russian hegemony, including Mali and Burkina Faso. In fact, Wagner Group, a state-run Russian militia with a strong presence across the continent was previously contacted by Niger’s new junta. Wagner's strength and intimidation factor will likely play a role in keeping the junta in power and preventing intervention by ECOWAS. It will also strengthen ties between Russia and Niger, as Wagner is heavily connected to Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin. The U.S. will have to consider new approaches to forging stronger ties with African nations as competition with countries like Russia, China, and Iran steepens and terrorism threats from militant and jihadist groups loom.