Withdrawal of US troops from Niger on the table
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The United States has revealed considerations of withdrawing its forces from Niger following the end of their joint military accord.
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US and Niger flags are raised side by side at the base camp for air forces and other personnel supporting the construction of Niger Air Base 201 in Agadez, Niger in April 2018 (AP)
Ongoing discussions between the transitional government in Niger and the United States have examined the withdrawal of US troops from the African nation's grounds and the steps that would follow, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Monday.
When asked about the possibility of concluding US soldiers' presence in Niger, Patel replied, "This is one of the things that we continue to be discussing with them [CNSP] and discussing next steps."
Niger declared Saturday an abrupt end to a longstanding military agreement with the United States in a fiery public address by the spokesperson of the Nigerien military.
The accord, which facilitated the "illegal" presence of American military personnel and civilian staff from the Department of Defense within the Nigerien borders, was severed by Niger as being unfair and a tool used by the US to undermine the nation's sovereignty.
"The government of Niger, taking into account the aspirations and interests of its people, decides with full responsibility to denounce with immediate effect the agreement relating to the status of military personnel of the United States and civilian employees of the American Department of Defense in the territory of the Republic of Niger," spokesperson Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane said on national television.
"This agreement is not only profoundly unfair in its essence, it does not meet the aspirations and interests of the Nigerien people," he clarified.
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Moreover, he reminded that the US decided to unilaterally end its cooperation with Niger in the wake of the military takeover in 2023.
The declaration comes after an important US delegation embarked on a visit to Niger on March 13. The delegation's mission was to engage in vital discussions, building on previous talks, with Nigerien leaders of the National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland (CNSP).
The focus of the discussions revolved around Niger's "return to a democratic path", as well as "the future of US security and development partnership," according to a US statement.
