In April 2024, Niamey renounced the defence agreements with Washington.
On Wednesday 15 May 2024, the Minister of National Defence, Lieutenant General Salifou Mody, received a high-level American delegation to discuss the process of withdrawing American troops from the country, according to the National Council for the Protection of the People (CNSP).
The delegation is led by Christopher Maier, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, and Lieutenant General Dagvin Anderson, Director of Joint Force Development at the US Department of Defense.
“The mandate of the US delegation is to present the draft plan for the withdrawal of US forces from Niger,” the CNSP said.
The military authorities in Niamey added that the plan would be the subject of “in-depth discussions with Nigerien military experts to ensure that the withdrawal takes place under the best possible conditions, guaranteeing order, security and compliance with deadlines.”
This is the first official high-level meeting since Niger cancelled its defence agreements with the United States in April 2024.
Following Niger’s decision to terminate the military cooperation agreement with Washington, thousands of people demonstrated in Niamey to demand the immediate withdrawal of American soldiers, in support of the current regime.
The new military regime has already called for the withdrawal of French soldiers and has moved closer to Russia, as have neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, which are also ruled by military juntas.
In January, Russia announced its intention to step up military cooperation with Niger, and agreements were signed following a Russian delegation’s visit to Niamey last December. Russian military equipment and instructors have since arrived in Niger.
DS/ac/lb/as/APA