Failure of the American plot to continue to have a military presence in Niger

After hitting a rock in the political negotiations of the United States to maintain its military presence in Niger, once again the citizens of the African country have called for the departure of American soldiers from their country by protesting in front of the American military base in the north of Niger.

Ali Lamine Zeine, the Prime Minister of Niger and Kurt Campbell, the US Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, agreed on preparing a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops from Niger. According to the relevant officials, in recent weeks the American diplomats were monitoring the state and assets to ensure that the military cooperation agreement with the Nigerian government is maintained and maintained. However, they did not succeed in achieving their goals.

Last month, the government of Niger announced that it had abruptly canceled a military agreement that allowed the military and civilian employees of the US Department of Defense Pentagon to be on the country's soil.

The American troops in Niger, their operations were shut down last summer after the military coup that removed the country's president, Mohamed Bazoum, and put a military regime in power.

Niger has been home to a large US air base in the city of Agadez, located about 920 kilometers from the capital Niamey, which Washington has been using for reconnaissance flights of its manned and unmanned aircraft and for other activities. The United States has also invested hundreds of millions of dollars for training the Niger army since it began its military operations in the country in 2013.

The long-awaited withdrawal of American troops from Niger marks a new regional success for Russia, which has increased its efforts to arm itself in Africa and support the military rulers in the neighboring countries of Mali and Burkina Faso.

On July 26 last year (2023), the police force of the President of Niger arrested the president of that country, Mohammad Bazoum, inside the presidential palace, and then removed him from his position. The forces also appointed General Abdourahamane Tchiani, as the head of the country's transitional council on July 28.

In the Niger revolution, what angered and surprised many of the American leaders and soldiers was the presence of General Musa Salo Parmo among those who planned the revolution, who was supported by the American army for more than 30 years.

US forces in Africa suffered another setback last week when Chadian authorities threatened to scrap the Status of Forces Agreement, known as SOFA. The SOFA agreement determines the terms and conditions under which the US military can operate in Chad.

Although this agreement did not directly order the US military to leave Chad, but according to Washington officials, all US forces must leave the French camp located in the country's capital, N'Djamena.

Niger's demand to end military relations with the United States has been made following the withdrawal of French troops from the country. The military agreement between the United States and Niger constitutes a key element of the so-called US counter-terrorism strategy.

The agreement enabled the presence of the US military through the 101st Air Base in Niamey, the capital of Niger, and the 201st Air Base near Agadez, located southwest of Niamey.

A group of Americans deployed to Niger are stationed at the 201st Air Force Base of the United States Air Force. Air Base 201 is a 6-year military base that cost 110 million dollars and is located in the northern desert of this country. But since last year's military coup, the military has not operated at the base and most of its MQ-9 Reaper drones have been grounded except for surveillance operations to protect US troops.

The military roles of the United States and France in Africa have not had meaningful results in improving the security situation of the host country. At the same time, success in the fight against terrorism in the region has come mainly from international military groups that include the military units of Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Benin.

The expulsion of American and other western countries' troops from Africa, as it is considered a disaster for these countries, at the same time provides new opportunities to strengthen the presence of international competitors of these countries, such as China and Russia, which are trying to expand their influence they in the area.

Following the suspension of military and security cooperation between the United States and Niger, Russian military experts went to Niger to provide combat training and establish an air defense system in the West African country. Before the arrival of the Russian military trainers, there was a telephone conversation between the President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President Abdul Rahman Tchiani of the National Council of Niger.

In recent years, Moscow has been expanding its influence in Africa and forming partnerships with African leaders. On the one hand, this is because of the presence of many resources on the African continent, and on the other hand, because Russia, especially after the war in Ukraine, wants to show that it is not isolated and has the ability to expand new partner relations in Africa.