Niger suspends military cooperation with US over ‘condescending attitude’

Niger has broken off “with immediate effect” its military cooperation agreement with the United States, the West African country’s military government announced on Saturday (16 March), adding that the US military presence in the territory is no longer justified.

The declaration read by the ruling junta’s spokesman Colonel Amadou Abdramane came just a day after a senior US delegation left Niger, following a three-day visit to renew contact with the military government that ousted the president and moved closer towards Russia. The pact between the two countries allowed US military personnel and civilian defense staff to be stationed in the West African country and operate a major drone base near Agadez to combat Islamist militants. The suspension of the airbase, which has played a central role in the US military’s operations in Africa’s Sahel region, follows an earlier move that has seen thousands of French soldiers exit the West African nation.

The announcement came shortly after US officials visited the Sahelian country, including Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee and General Michael Langley, head of the US Africa Command. The junta’s spokesperson said the US delegation did not follow diplomatic protocol and failed to inform Niger about the composition of the delegation, the date of its arrival or the agenda. “Niger regrets the intention of the American delegation to deny the sovereign Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and types of partnerships capable of truly helping them fight against terrorism,” Abdramane noted, though he stopped short of saying US forces should leave.