Niger’s ruling military junta says it has revoked with immediate effect a military accord that allows US military personnel and civilian staff on its soil.
As of 2023 there were about 1,100 US troops in Niger, where the US military operates out of two bases including a drone base known as airbase 201, built near Agadez in central Niger at a cost of more than US $100m. Since 2018 the base has been used to target Islamic State militants and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), an al-Qaida affiliate, in the Sahel region.
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Since seizing power in July 2023, the Niger junta, like the military rulers in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, have kicked out French and other European forces, and turned to Russia for support.
There is a substantial Russian influence in Niger and surrounding countries. https://www.dw.com/en/niger-russia-sahel/a-66494597
Yes, this is exactly why this is happening. The Kremlin is using violent coups to destabilize a number of African countries.
That’s exactly why I’m sure the hundreds of millions in aide given to niger will buy himars for Ukraine.
Smooth move, Niger. Way to move support to where it’s needed!