A top Pentagon official informed Congress that the U.S. has not yet received a formal request from Niger's junta to depart the country. The status of forces agreement, which governs the U.S. military presence in Niger, has been declared null and void by the ruling military council, known as the CNSP. However, the junta has assured that American military forces are safe and that no actions will be taken to endanger them.
Currently, there are approximately 650 U.S. troops and several hundred support personnel in Niger, a country that has historically been crucial for counterterrorism operations. Following the ousting of Niger's democratically elected president by mutinous soldiers last July, the CNSP requested French forces to leave.
The U.S. military in Niger has consolidated to one base and is primarily conducting drone operations for force protection. Discussions are ongoing with the CNSP to determine the future course of action.
U.S. lawmakers have expressed concerns over the swift transition of Niger from a strategic ally to being governed by a junta. U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, head of U.S. Africa Command, highlighted the role of disinformation in the region, attributing the fall of several governments in the Sahel to misinformation campaigns.
Langley emphasized the impact of social media and Russia's strategic dissemination of disinformation across Africa. He has requested additional resources from the State Department to counter Russia's influence in the region.
