Decisions on the modalities of withdrawal of American troops from Niger will be announced in the coming weeks by the United States, declared Monday April 29 in Abidjan the head of the American military command for Africa (Africom), during a conference Press. “Decisions will be made public in the coming weeks,” announced Michael Langley after an interview with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara.
The military regime of Niger resulting from a coup d'état perpetrated on July 26, 2023 denounced in March the military cooperation agreement in force with the United States, believing that the presence of American forces, deployed as part of the anti-jihadist fight, was now “illegal”.
A major drone base near Agadez
Washington agreed in mid-April to withdraw its more than 1,000 soldiers from the country and announced it was sending a delegation to Niamey to agree on the details of this withdrawal. “Discussions between the United States and Niger” are still ongoing, General Langley said. They were started in Niamey a week ago by Washington, according to the Pentagon.
In Niger, the United States notably has a major drone base near Agadez, built for around $100 million.
After the coup that overthrew elected President Mohamed Bazoum, the military regime quickly demanded the departure of soldiers from the former colonial power France and moved closer to Russia, like neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, also led by the military and facing violence from jihadist groups.
General Michael Langley also spoke of “the future of the partnership between Ivory Coast and the United States, in this case Africom”, which he wishes to “strengthen” regarding “security” and “civil society”. . “We realize that a threat still exists,” particularly “on the northern border” of Ivory Coast, he said, referring to jihadist groups that have already plagued the country.
