After Africa recently asked for U.S. troops to be pulled out of their country, the US is worried about Russia’s power in Africa.
At the moment, the US has two operational bases in Niger and a security agreement with Africa that lets the troops work on African land. This agreement had been in place for more than ten years, but Africa has now broken it. This could mean that the military bases have to close. They got rid of the French military and were offered help by the Wagner group of Russian mercenaries before they chose to do this.
For the US, closing down its military base means losing more of Africa to Russia’s control and guidance. In order to keep a good bond with Africa, the US went to Niger after the French left.
A spokesman for the African military government, Colonel Amadou Abdramane, said that U.S. troops were “declared illegal.” Abdramane said, “The military government strongly condemns the head of the American delegation’s condescending tone and threat of violence against the Nigerian government and people.”
U.S. officials said that Niger was going to give Iran access to their uranium reserves, which could help Iran make more nuclear weapons.
“The government of Niger rejects the false allegations of the head of the American delegation to maintain that it has signed a secret agreement on uranium with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Abdramane said in response. It was not true. What they said next was that they were “ending the security pact with immediate effect.”
As a representative from the joint chiefs of staff put it, Niger sent “mixed signals,” which means there may be some room for negotiation. “We are still in touch with Niger’s ruling military council and are asking them to clarify what they said and talking about possible next steps,” Vedant Pate, a spokesperson for the State Department, said.
