A military pact between the US and Niger that provided US soldiers with a vital base and launching pad in the Sahel area of Africa has been halted. The action comes after a controversy about the African country’s connections to Iran and Russia broke out when US officials traveled to Niger last week to voice their concerns. The 2012 “status of forces” deal, which is crucial to US military operations in the Sahel, let around 1,000 US military troops and civilian defense officials to work out of Niger.

Context and implications

In the capital city of Niamey, Niger, the US military has Airbase 101. It also has a sizable airport, airport 201, close to Agadez, a city about 920 kilometers (572 miles) southwest of Niamey. It uses Airbase 201 for both unmanned and human surveillance flights as well as other Sahelian missions. At a cost of about $100 million, Air Base 201 was constructed between 2016 and 2019. Since 2018, drone operations against armed groups associated with al-Qaeda in the Sahel and ISIL (ISIS) have been conducted out of the site. 

Although Washington’s efforts against armed groups in the region benefit greatly from having a base in the Sahel, Rattansi added, “it’s really there for great power projection against countries like Russia and China.” As to a recent study, the junta in Niger has been anticipating a chance to drive out US soldiers, as it was Russia’s responsibility to do so, either directly or indirectly. Media reports shortly after the coup claimed that the leaders of the coup in Niger had threatened to use the Wagner Group for aid in anticipation of an impending ECOWAS intervention. Wagner financier Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was himself in a perilous situation owing to the June 2023 mutiny, lauded the coup leaders and made a symbolic offer of Wagner’s aid. On the other hand, the Russian Foreign Ministry took longer to warm up to the coup plotters.

Adaptation and strategy

In anticipation of a much-needed conference on the future of US-Niger ties, a group of US officials arrived in Niamey. AFRICOM Commander General Michael Langley, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee, and Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Dr. Celeste Wallander were among the distinguished group of US diplomatic and military officials in attendance. Following months of tense relations and the adoption of a practical strategy to deal with Niger’s coup leaders, what many saw as a sign of renewed commitment ended with Nigerien officials from the National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland (CNSP) releasing a statement labeling the American presence in Niger as “illegal.” Even while it’s unknown exactly what was discussed at the discussion, it was undoubtedly a difficult topic. The American side seems to have “stumbled in several ways,” as at least one academic explained. Niger’s apparent preference for alternative security partners over the United States suggests that it is becoming more interested in aligning itself with Russia. This connection is expected to develop with the deployment of Africa Corps personnel. 

Future of US engagement in Africa

The Pentagon and State Department are in a panic about the apparent rejection of a status of troops agreement from 2012. The Pentagon has said that it is contacting the junta in Niger to discuss strategies for maintaining US force presence there and that it is looking for clarity about the CNSP’s remarks. Because it is home to a vital US air base at Agadez, Niger has been an important security partner in the Sahel and a pivotal point for US counterterrorism activities. It’s also uncertain whether the military as a whole wants to stop receiving US backing and whether the junta has persuaded a sizable enough group of soldiers to agree with this choice. Security arrangements with the European Union were suspended by the military authorities in Niger in December 2023. 

This action followed the arrival of a Russian group headed by Yunus Bek-Yevkrov, the Deputy Defense Minister, which sparked worries about a developing alliance between Moscow and Niamey. Niger and Russia had decided to forge greater military cooperation, according to a statement issued by the Russian Defense Ministry in January 2024. The process of Niger’s shift towards Moscow began after a military takeover overthrew a newly elected democratic government in July 2023. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, Given its current operations throughout Africa and the resource limits in Ukraine, Moscow may find this easier said than done. Nonetheless, Russia has not hesitated to propose security alliances, even if they only have a little presence. For example, two months before Russia attacked Ukraine, 1,000 Wagner soldiers landed in Mali, and Moscow’s mercenaries have not disappeared despite the ongoing conflict and the Prigozhin mutiny.