WASHINGTON — U.S. officials say they are still engaging in dialogue with Niger’s junta days after the West African country ordered U.S. troops out of the country following a visit by a high-level delegation that traveled to Niamey last week.
On Saturday, junta spokesperson Col. Amadou Abdramane said that the agreement that allowed U.S. troops to operate in the country was terminated “with immediate effect.”
“Niger regrets the intention of the American delegation to deny the sovereign Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and types of partnerships capable of truly helping them fight against terrorism,” Abdramane said.
Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters Monday that U.S. officials had raised concerns “in a direct and frank manner.”
The delegation, which included Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander and the head of U.S. Africa Command Gen. Michael Langley, had “expressed concern over Niger's potential relationships with Russia and Iran” among other issues, Singh said.
Without providing proof, the junta accused the U.S. delegation of making false allegations that Niger “would have signed a secret agreement on uranium with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Singh did not provide further details on concerns the U.S. raised regarding Iran.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said the discussions in Niger’s capital were prompted by the country’s “trajectory.”
Niger has been led by military leaders since a coup in July last year overthrew the democratically-elected president, Mohamed Bazoum.
“We are in touch with transition authorities to seek clarification of their comments and discuss additional next steps,” Patel said.
Niger plays an important role for U.S. counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel region, which has been plagued by extremist violence. Since the July coup, the U.S. has been unable to conduct such operations, the deputy Pentagon press secretary said.
Niger could be “posturing” in order to “get the U.S. to stop talking about the return to democracy,” said Confidence Isaiah-MacHarry, lead security analyst at SBM Intelligence, a security and strategic analysis think tank.
He said, however, it is possible for relations between Washington and Niamey to be salvaged.
“I do believe that the Americans are not going to leave and they're not going to leave easily,” he said.
The U.S. has about 1,000 personnel in Niger made up of troops and civilian workers, according to the Pentagon.
After the coup last year, Niger’s military leaders expelled France and other European forces. Some analysts have noted a strengthening of ties with Russia similar to other countries in the region that have experienced coups in recent years, such as Mali and Burkina Faso.
“It might seem that they are shifting to the East or they’re shifting toward Russia, but I do think that it could also be a strategy to get more concessions from the West,” Isaiah-MacHarry, said.
Abdourahamane Alkassoum, a political analyst in Niger, said the agreement between the U.S. and Niger was “unclear” and clarification is needed to repair the relationship.
“I think U.S. officials will try to arrange and make sure that they have a clear agreement accepted by the junta and accepted by Niger’s population, which will clarify the responsibilities of parties,” Alkassoum said.
“Niger needs U.S. expertise and the U.S. needs Niger’s strategic, geopolitical positioning” in the region, he added.
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