U.S military base 201 in Niger.
The Nigerien government has officially asked the United States to provide a timetable for the withdrawal of its troops from the country. This decision comes in a context of growing tensions between the two countries on the question of the American military presence.
On March 16, the spokesperson for the Nigerièn military junta, the National Council for the Protection of the Fatherland (CNSP), published a press release denouncing the agreement on the status of American forces in Niger.
The presence of 1,000 American soldiers, mainly based at drone base 201 in Agadez, is now considered undesirable by the military junta.
Following a request for clarification from the United States ambassador in Niamey, the Nigerien government confirmed its wish to see American troops leave the country. An official letter was sent to Washington demanding a concrete withdrawal timetable.
The request for withdrawal of American troops marks a turning point in relations between Niger and the United States. The Sahelian country now intends to assert its sovereignty and take charge of its own security by building new alliances that align with the sovereign interests of the Sahelian state.
