🇳🇪 🇺🇸 🇷🇺 #Niger Cuts Military Ties with #UnitedStates:
On Saturday, Niger’s military junta announced it would immediately sever military cooperation with the UnitedStates and ordered the removal of #American forces stationed in the country for counter-terrorism operations, signaling another shift away from western powers as the junta seeks greater support from #Russia.
A Nigerien military spokesman, Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane, announced during a press conference on March 17th his country’s intention to cut military ties with the United States with ‘immediate effect.’ In a televised address, Abdramane stated that the U.S. delegation failed to follow diplomatic protocol and did not inform the Nigerien government of its agenda: “The Nigerien government, taking into account the aspirations and interests of its people, decides in any case to denounce with immediate effect the agreement relating to the status of U.S. military personnel and civilian employees of the US Department of Defense on the territory of the Republic of Niger. A diplomatic correspondence will be addressed to the US party to this effect.” “Also, the government of Niger forcefully denounces the condescending attitude accompanied by the threat of retaliation from the head of the American delegation towards the Nigerien government and people,” said Abdramane.
The announcement comes just days after AFRICOM Commander Michael Langley and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee visited Junta leadership.
Despite the decision, AFRICOM confirmed to Stars and Stripes that American forces are still in country, largely located at the Air Base 201 near Agadez, which has been a hub for counter-terrorism drone operations in the Sahel, which has been a growing hotbed for jihadism in recent years.
Following a coup led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, which deposed Niger’s elected President Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023, the U.S. military, which previously had around 1,100 personnel in the country, reduced its force to an estimated 648. These remaining forces were concentrated Airbase 201, which cost around $100 million to build, although operations were significantly reduced after Tchiani took power. Both MQ-9 Reaper armed drones and C-17 Globemaster III transport planes operate out of the airbase.
Since taking power during a coup in July 2023, the junta has ended military cooperation with #France as junta officials continue to meet with Russia for greater military and economic cooperation. Via theatlasnews.co
On Saturday, Niger’s military junta announced it would immediately sever military cooperation with the UnitedStates and ordered the removal of #American forces stationed in the country for counter-terrorism operations, signaling another shift away from western powers as the junta seeks greater support from #Russia.
A Nigerien military spokesman, Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane, announced during a press conference on March 17th his country’s intention to cut military ties with the United States with ‘immediate effect.’ In a televised address, Abdramane stated that the U.S. delegation failed to follow diplomatic protocol and did not inform the Nigerien government of its agenda: “The Nigerien government, taking into account the aspirations and interests of its people, decides in any case to denounce with immediate effect the agreement relating to the status of U.S. military personnel and civilian employees of the US Department of Defense on the territory of the Republic of Niger. A diplomatic correspondence will be addressed to the US party to this effect.” “Also, the government of Niger forcefully denounces the condescending attitude accompanied by the threat of retaliation from the head of the American delegation towards the Nigerien government and people,” said Abdramane.
The announcement comes just days after AFRICOM Commander Michael Langley and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee visited Junta leadership.
Despite the decision, AFRICOM confirmed to Stars and Stripes that American forces are still in country, largely located at the Air Base 201 near Agadez, which has been a hub for counter-terrorism drone operations in the Sahel, which has been a growing hotbed for jihadism in recent years.
Following a coup led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, which deposed Niger’s elected President Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023, the U.S. military, which previously had around 1,100 personnel in the country, reduced its force to an estimated 648. These remaining forces were concentrated Airbase 201, which cost around $100 million to build, although operations were significantly reduced after Tchiani took power. Both MQ-9 Reaper armed drones and C-17 Globemaster III transport planes operate out of the airbase.
Since taking power during a coup in July 2023, the junta has ended military cooperation with #France as junta officials continue to meet with Russia for greater military and economic cooperation. Via theatlasnews.co