Johannesburg — Following more than a decade of investment exceeding $1 billion in Niger, the U.S. military has agreed to pull out its over 1,000 forces from the West African nation within the next few months. This decision was not one the U.S. had anticipated, and sources reveal to CBS News that it will deal a significant blow to U.S. counterterrorism efforts in a region known for harboring various major and escalating threats.
Niger, a country surrounded by unstable neighbors, has seen local militias collaborate with international terrorist groups such as al Qaeda and ISIS.
A senior U.S. military official with experience in Niger conveyed to CBS News that the impending withdrawal is "a devastating setback, both for our efforts in regional counterterrorism and for the overall peace in the region moving forward."
"Our troops have dedicated years to enhancing the capabilities and providing training to regional forces," the official remarked. "This is a significant setback on all fronts."
Following a military coup in July 2023, Niger's leaders made it clear in various discussions with U.S. officials that they were not interested in U.S. efforts to help guide the country on a path toward new democratic elections, and were instead turning to Russia for security services and to Iran for a possible deal on Niger's uranium reserves.
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In March, the head of the U.S. military's Africa Command, Gen. Michael Langley, warned members of the U.S. Congress that "a number of countries are at the tipping point of being captured by the Russian Federation."
Just days before Langley testified on Capitol Hill, he traveled to Niger to meet with the country's junta leaders. The meeting didn't go as U.S. officials had hoped, and soon after Langley and his entourage departed, Niger military spokesman Amadou Abdramane announced on national television that the country's joint military agreement with the U.S. was "suspended with immediate effect."
U.S. military sources told CBS News there was a diplomatic push to try to mend the frayed relationship, but that Nigerien officials had made it clear the security cooperation was untenable.
Niger's military government had already expelled French forces from the country in the wake of last year's coup and begun looking for new partners. U.S. officials said it was worrying when the Nigeriens expelled the troops from France, the former colonial power in the country.
During the past three years, the area surrounding Niger has witnessed a total of six successful coups. The ruling juntas in Guinea, Mali, and Burkina Faso have all expressed their support for the new military leaders in Niger.
Mali and Burkina Faso were the first to seek assistance from the Russian mercenary group formerly known as the Wagner Group for military training and backing.
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Sources revealed to CBS News that some of Niger's coup leaders had received training from the U.S. military during different exercises on the continent in the past.
It is estimated that the U.S. has invested over $1 billion in establishing two drone bases and a new embassy in Niger over a span of about ten years. These bases in Niger, along with the approximately 1,100 U.S. troops stationed there, have played a crucial role in U.S. operations in the unstable Sahel region, which spans across northern Africa.
The involvement of U.S. special forces in Niger came to public attention in 2017, following an ambush by ISIS militants just outside the town of Tongo Tongo that resulted in the death of four U.S. soldiers.
Last week, a member of the U.S. forces stationed in Niger reached out to Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson via email. The soldier expressed concerns about the current situation in Niger following the recent coup, stating that they had been instructed to "sit and hold," hindering their ability to fulfill their mission.
According to the soldier's letter, which was made public by Rep. Matt Gaetz on Twitter, the troops in Niger feel like they are being "held hostage" in a country where they are no longer welcome.
Protests in Niamey over the weekend saw Nigeriens demanding the immediate departure of U.S. soldiers, with one protest sign boldly stating: "US Army, You leave, you Vanish."
Another U.S. delegation is set to visit Niger in the near future to negotiate a withdrawal timeline, expected to span over the next few months.
