US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell held discussions with Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine on Friday, during which they reached an agreement, as per a State Department official, that the US would undertake a military withdrawal from the country in response to Niger’s demands.
Following this agreement, there will be ongoing discussions with the Department of Defense regarding the timeline for the withdrawal.
This significant drawdown will notably impact the US military presence in Africa, coinciding with heightened US concerns over Niger’s growing ties with Russia and Iran.
Campbell’s meeting with Zeine marked their second encounter this week, occurring while Campbell was in Washington, DC, attending the World Bank’s spring meetings.
Last month, Niger announced the termination of its military cooperation agreement with the US, leading to these recent discussions following strained interactions between officials of both countries in recent months.
This shift follows the deactivation of US troops stationed in Niger last summer due to a military coup that ousted the democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, and installed a military junta.
During discussions this week, Zeine emphasized a desire for continued partnership with the US and sought to distinguish Niger’s situation from that of France, according to the State Department official.
However, both countries are expected to undergo military withdrawal from the country within a year of each other.
The US intends to maintain a diplomatic presence in Niger, as stated by the official.
Earlier this week, a senior airman in Niger filed a formal whistleblower complaint alleging that the US ambassador to Niger and the defense attaché had purposefully suppressed intelligence to maintain a facade of a positive country-to-country relationship.
Additionally, last week, Chadian officials threatened to annul the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which determines the terms under which US military personnel can operate in Chad.
While this action did not directly order the US military to leave Chad, officials were informed that it implied all US forces would need to vacate a French base in N’Djamena.
