The United States is withdrawing all its personnel and equipment from Niger this weekend, abandoning a vital drone base crucial for counterterrorism operations in the Sahel region. The move follows a deadline set by the ruling junta in Niger after a coup last year. While some troops have relocated to other West African nations, the majority will initially be sent to Europe.
The US is facing a major shift in its Africa policy after being ordered to withdraw troops from Niger and losing access to a crucial drone base. The US had attempted to make aid conditional on democratic reforms, which some African leaders have rejected. Anonymous US officials claim the developments are down to America pursuing ideological goals when dealing with African nations. Behind closed doors, US officials are increasingly calling for challenges in democracy to be overlooked in favor of maintaining access to African nations’ natural resources and keeping China and Russia at bay.
