Why the U.S. military's withdrawal from Niger is a "devastating blow"

Johannesburg — After investing much than $1 cardinal successful Niger complete a decade, nan U.S. subject has agreed to retreat its much than 1,000 forces from nan West African federation complete nan adjacent fewer months. It was not a move nan U.S. had hoped to make, and officials show CBS News it will beryllium a terrible rustle to U.S. counterterrorism efforts successful a region known to correspond a number of awesome and increasing threats.

Niger is simply a landlocked state surrounded by immoderate unstable neighbors wherever section militias have joined forces pinch world panic organizations including al Qaeda and ISIS.

One elder U.S. subject charismatic who's spent clip successful Niger told CBS News nan looming withdrawal was "a devastating blow, some for our location counterterrorism efforts and to wide bid successful nan region going forward."

"Our soldiers person worked for years building nan capacity and providing training to location forces," nan charismatic said. "This is simply a reliable rustle connected each levels."

Boys stitchery connected apical of a car while displaying flags of Niger, Burkina Faso and Russia during a objection demanding nan contiguous departure of U.S. troops from Niger, successful Niamey, April 13, 2024. AFP/Getty

Following a military coup successful July 2023, Niger's leaders made it clear successful various discussions pinch U.S. officials that they were not willing successful U.S. efforts to thief guideline nan state connected a way toward caller antiauthoritarian elections, and were alternatively turning to Russia for information services and to Iran for a imaginable woody connected Niger's uranium reserves.

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In March, nan caput of nan U.S. military's Africa Command, Gen. Michael Langley, warned members of nan U.S. Congress that "a number of countries are astatine nan tipping constituent of being captured by nan Russian Federation."

Just days earlier Langley testified connected Capitol Hill, he traveled to Niger to meet pinch nan country's junta leaders. The gathering didn't spell arsenic U.S. officials had hoped, and soon aft Langley and his entourage departed, Niger subject spokesperson Amadou Abdramane announced connected nationalist tv that nan country's associated subject statement pinch nan U.S. was "suspended pinch contiguous effect."

Protesters clasp up a motion demanding that U.S. troops time off Niger instantly during a objection successful Niamey, Niger, April 13, 2024. AFP via Getty

U.S. subject sources told CBS News location was a negotiated push to effort to mend nan frayed relationship, but that Nigerien officials had made it clear nan information practice was untenable.

Niger's subject authorities had already expelled French forces from nan state successful nan aftermath of last year's coup and begun looking for caller partners. U.S. officials said it was worrying erstwhile nan Nigeriens expelled nan troops from France, nan erstwhile assemblage powerfulness successful nan country.

Months later, successful January, Niger's junta leaders agreed to heighten their subject practice pinch Russia and, conscionable past week, a Russian carrier level arrived successful nan superior Niamey reportedly carrying 100 Russian subject trainers and a caller aerial defense system.

The region astir Niger has knowledgeable six successful coups complete nan past 3 years alone. Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso's ruling juntas person each issued statements of support for Niger's caller subject leaders.

Burkina Faso and Mali were nan first to move to nan Russian mercenary patient antecedently known arsenic nan Wagner Group for subject training and support.

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Sources show CBS News that a fistful of Niger's coup leaders had antecedently received U.S. subject training during various exercises connected nan continent.

It's believed nan U.S. has spent much than $1 cardinal building 2 drone bases and a caller embassy successful Niger complete astir a decade. The Niger bases and nan astir 1,100 U.S. forces based astatine them person been cardinal to U.S. operations successful nan volatile Sahel region, which stretches correct crossed bluish Africa.

Many Americans first became alert of U.S. typical forces operations successful Niger successful 2017, aft four U.S. soldiers were killed successful an ambush by ISIS militants conscionable extracurricular nan municipality of Tongo Tongo.

Last week, a serving personnel of nan U.S. forces successful Niger sent an email to Speaker of nan House of Representatives Mike Johnson detailing nan conditions for himself and his chap troops successful nan African nation, saying that since nan coup, they had been told to "sit and hold," which was preventing them from carrying retired their mission.

In nan letter, a transcript of which was shared online by Rep. Matt Gaetz, nan worker said America's troops successful Niger were efficaciously being "held hostage" successful a state that had made it abundantly clear they were nary longer welcome.

At regular play protests successful Niamey, Nigeriens person demanded that U.S. soldiers time off immediately, pinch 1 poster reading: "US Army, You leave, you Vanish."

Another U.S. delegation is expected to sojourn Niger soon to talk a timeline for nan withdrawal, which is apt to return spot complete nan coming fewer months.

In:
• Niger
• Pentagon
• Terrorism
• Iran
• Africa
• Russia
• United States Military