Concerns Rise Over Russia's Influence on Key US Ally in West Africa, Reports Claim

A key ally in northwest Africa is shifting its focus to Russia despite concerns raised by the top US commander in Africa that Russia is attempting to expand its influence in the Sahel region of Africa.

Niger, which has played a pivotal role in supporting US counterterrorism efforts in the area for almost ten years, declared on Saturday that it was terminating the agreement that permitted US military and civilian personnel to carry out operations in the country starting from 2014.

The announcement was made shortly after a tense meeting between Niger's military junta and US diplomatic and military officials. The officials included Gen. Michael Langley from US Africa Command and Celeste Wallander, the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs. The US delegation expressed concerns about the increasing Russian military presence in Niger, especially regarding the future of Air Base 101 in Niger's capital and the possibility of it being handed over to the Russians.

The junta leaders were upset during the discussion as they felt like they were being lectured to. This feeling arose despite the US reducing its military and foreign aid to Niger after the coup took place the previous year.

Niger's National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane, second from right, is greeted by supporters upon his arrival at the Stade General Seyni Kountche in Niamey on August 6, 2023.

Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane, from Niger's National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, was warmly welcomed by his supporters at the Stade General Seyni Kountche in Niamey on August 6, 2023.

AFP/Getty Images

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Niger has decided to end its military agreement with the United States, calling it 'profoundly unfair.' Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, a Nigerien military spokesman, expressed regret over the American delegation's denial of the sovereign people of Niger the right to choose their partners and the types of partnerships needed to effectively combat terrorism. He stated that the United States unilaterally suspended all cooperation between the two countries, and criticized the US delegation for their 'condescending attitude' towards the Nigeriens.

The dispute between the US and the Nigerien junta is mainly influenced by the increasing military cooperation between Russia and Niger, according to officials. In January, Russia's Defense Ministry announced that both countries had agreed to enhance their military relationship.

Following the coup, US counterterrorism efforts and joint training with the Nigerien military were mostly put on hold. Surprisingly, the junta did not request the US to depart, despite expelling French troops and severing ties with the EU towards the end of 2023.

Several junta leaders in the country have received training and worked closely with the US as part of security cooperation efforts. The Pentagon has shown interest in maintaining a military presence in the country, as many officials believe it is crucial for combating terrorism in the region, even amidst political unrest.

Recently, US military officials have expressed worries about Russia's growing presence in Niger. According to a military source familiar with the situation, the Kremlin's increasing influence in the Sahel region suggests that the West is losing its grip in the area.

Langley, the AFRICOM commander, recently informed lawmakers that the US has struggled to compete with Russian disinformation in Africa. This has allowed Russia to fuel instability across the Sahel region.

Gen. Michael Langley, USMC, Commander, U.S. Africa Command, testifies during a Senate committee hearing on Senate Armed Services hearing to examine the posture of United States Central Command and United States Africa Command in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2024 and the Future Years, Thursday, March 16, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Gen. Michael Langley, USMC, Commander of U.S. Africa Command, appeared before a Senate committee on Thursday, March 16, 2023. The committee was holding a hearing to review the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2024 and the Future Years, focusing on the posture of United States Central Command and United States Africa Command. The hearing took place on Capitol Hill in Washington and was covered by Mariam Zuhaib for the Associated Press.

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Both Russia and China are interested in gaining power projection capabilities in Central Africa and the Sahel region. However, the Russian Federation seems to be moving at a faster pace in trying to establish control in these areas.

According to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, the US is staying in communication with the junta known as the National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland, or CNSP.

"We have taken note of the statement from the CNSP in Niger, which comes after open discussions at high levels in Niamey this week regarding our worries about the CNSP’s direction," Miller stated. "We are in communication with the CNSP and will share more information when necessary."

The future actions of the military junta in Niger regarding the potential expulsion of US military personnel remain uncertain. US forces have been involved in counter-terrorism efforts and providing training to the Nigerien military since 2014.

If the US were to withdraw, counterterrorism efforts in the region could be impacted, according to officials. US drone flights from an air base in Agadez, Niger, have allowed the US to closely monitor threats in the Sahel region, especially as violent terror groups have been increasing attacks in Mali and Burkina Faso.

Officials are worried that pulling out the around 650 US troops in Niger could create a gap that Islamist militants and Russian mercenaries, including remnants of the Wagner Group, might try to take advantage of.

Russia has turned its attention to Niger amidst the deterioration of the US-Nigerien relationship. In December, the Kremlin reopened its embassy in neighboring Burkina Faso, positioning itself closer to Niger's capital. Additionally, Russia has been actively engaging with Niger's military junta, according to a senior intelligence official speaking to CNN.

One of the reasons Niger finds Russia appealing is that Russia can sell weapons and equipment without the same human rights and international law conditions that the US requires. This allows for a quicker supply of military hardware to Niger compared to the United States. In exchange, Russia is benefiting from the natural resources in the region, such as the gold mines in Niger, as mentioned by another official.

Abdramane, the spokesperson for the military in Niger, mentioned on Saturday that Niger regards Russia as a partner with whom they engage in military cooperation based on agreements signed with the previous government. This partnership allows Niger to acquire necessary military equipment for their fight against terrorists who have caused harm to thousands of innocent Nigerians, often overlooked by the international community.

The relationship between the US and Niger has deteriorated rapidly. Towards the end of last year, the US was optimistic about the junta government, believing it was making progress. However, the focus shifted towards combating the rise of violent extremist groups in West Africa, such as ISIS-Sahel and JNIM, a radical Islamist organization active in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

Following the coup in Niger, a decrease in US surveillance missions in the region allowed ISIS-Sahel and JNIM to expand, according to the official. Despite reduced cooperation between the US and Niger, the US military's objective remained unchanged: to assist in countering the spread of extremist groups. The official also mentioned that several European nations shared this goal and provided some support to the junta.

The Nigerien government has intensified its crackdown on the remaining Western military presence in the country, as Russia exerts more pressure and the US is constrained by law in its assistance to Niger due to the coup designation, sources reported. US operations in Niger now require stricter oversight and approval from the Nigerien government, while the Russian presence has become more apparent in the country.

“Northwest Africa is getting carved up in real time by half a dozen or more countries,” one of the officials said, “and the United States is losing its foothold.”

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the growing influence of Russia in Niger, a key ally in northwest Africa, and the concerns raised by the US about Russia's attempt to expand its influence in the Sahel region. The article discusses the termination of the agreement between Niger and the US that allowed US military and civilian personnel to carry out operations in the country, citing concerns about the increasing Russian military presence in Niger. It also mentions the tensions between the US and the Nigerien junta during a meeting where the US delegation expressed concerns about the future of Air Base 101, which is currently used by the US military.

The article sheds light on the complex dynamics between the US, Niger, and Russia, with Niger seeking to strengthen its ties with Russia, which can provide weapons and equipment without the same human rights and international law conditions imposed by the US. It also highlights the challenges faced by the US in countering Russian influence in the region, particularly in the context of the coup in Niger and the subsequent decrease in US surveillance missions. The article raises concerns about the potential consequences of a US withdrawal from Niger, including the possibility of a gap that could be exploited by Islamist militants and Russian mercenaries. It also discusses the concerns raised by US military officials about Russia's growing influence in the Sahel region, which they see as a sign of the West losing its grip in the area.