Photo courtesy[New York Times]
The United States has agreed to withdraw its troops from Niger amid proof of Russian troops arriving in the country.
The US has began the process of withdrawing its forces as Niger’s Military Junta ended an agreement with Washington that had earlier allowed it to base its troops for operations in the region .
Up to 1000 American soldiers have been in operation in the country since 2013, with their military’s intervention in Niger including the deployment of special operation forces and unnamed aerial vehicles by the US in support of the Nigerien Government.
One of the main aims of the troops was to assist in counter-terrorism operations against militant groups in the country which included the allocation of equipment to security forces and periodic training of Nigerien forces by U.S. troops.
The Sahel region, which Niger is part of in sub-Saharan Africa has been heavily affected by militant groups as a result of weak borders and governments as well as ethnicity.
Similarly, On 23 August 2023, the junta announced that it will evict French and US troops from Niger leading to events on In September 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will withdraw all 1,500 troops from Niger by the end of 2023, in the aftermath of the coup in the country, completing their withdrawal in December 2023.
Russian millitary trainers in Niger
However, Russian millitary trainers and personnel have arrived in Niger as the country looks to have diplomatic relations with Russia. The Us secretary of defense Lloyd Austin has acknowledged the occurrence, however has downplayed its significance.
‘The Russians are in a separate compound and don’t have access to US forces or to our equipment,’ Lloyd added.