The Pentagon has officially requested the withdrawal of all 1,000 American combat troops from Niger over the next few months, marking the end of a critical counter-terrorism operation and giving Russia another win in its competition for influence in Africa.
The decision to expel U.S. forces was made by the Niger junta in mid-April, but the Biden administration took several weeks to acknowledge the orders. While negotiations for a “orderly and responsible withdrawal” were mentioned by the administration, on Friday, a U.S. official confirmed that preparations for the troops’ departure had begun. It is anticipated that only U.S. embassy security personnel will remain in Niger by the end of the summer.
The withdrawal of troops from Niger, a vital location for counter-terrorism efforts in the Sahel region, has garnered criticism from Congressional Republicans, who believe that the situation has left American forces in a precarious position. Additionally, the presence of Russian troops in Niger’s capital city of Niamey has raised concerns, as they have moved into the airbase where American forces were stationed.
Efforts to negotiate a small counter-terrorism force to remain in Niger are ongoing, but challenges remain, especially regarding the need for American planes to supply the remaining force. The hope that the Russians might falter and prompt Niger and other African states to request the return of U.S. forces is seen as unlikely, as Western nations are wary of military dictatorships and the growing influence of predatory actors in the region.
