U.S. weighing options in Africa after Niger junta orders departure from key counterterrorism base

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, right, speaks during a meeting with Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds, not pictured, at the Pentagon on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥 The Pentagon is working with Niger officials to find a way for U.S. troops to stay in the country 鈥 a key base for counterterrorism operations in sub-Saharan Africa 鈥 following a weekend directive that they leave.

Last week a high level-delegation of U.S. officials, including Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander and the head of U.S. Africa Command Gen. Michael Langley, traveled to Niger to meet with members of the military junta.

Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said Monday the U.S. officials had 鈥渓engthy and direct鈥 discussions with the junta officials that were also in part spurred by concerns over Niger's potential relationships with Russia and Iran.

鈥淲e were troubled on the path that Niger is on,鈥 Singh said.

On Saturday, following the meeting, the junta鈥檚 spokesperson, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, said U.S. flights over Niger鈥檚 territory in recent weeks were illegal. Meanwhile, Insa Garba Saidou, a local activist who assists Niger鈥檚 military rulers with their communications, criticized U.S. efforts to force the junta to pick between strategic partners.

鈥淭he American bases and civilian personnel cannot stay on Nigerien soil any longer,鈥 he told The Associated Press.

Singh said the U.S. was aware of the March 16 statement 鈥渁nnouncing the end of the status of forces agreement between Niger and the United States. We are working through diplomatic channels to seek clarification. These are ongoing discussions and we don't have more to share at this time.鈥

State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said the discussions were prompted by Niger's 鈥渢rajectory."

鈥淲e are in touch with transition authorities to seek clarification of their comments and discuss additional next steps,鈥 Patel said.

The junta has largely been in control in Niger since July when and months later .

The U.S. military still had some 650 troops working in Niger in December, largely consolidated at a base farther away from Niamey, Niger's capital. Singh said the total number of personnel still in country, including civilians and contractors, is roughly 1,000.

The Niger base is critical for U.S. counterterrorism operations in the Sahel and has been used for both manned and unmanned surveillance operations, although Singh said the only drone flights being currently conducted are for force protection.

In the Sahel the U.S. has also supported local ground troops, including accompanying them on missions. However, such accompanied missions have been scaled back since U.S. troops were killed in a joint operation in Niger in 2017.

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