By Adeyemi Adekunle
In a move marking a significant shift in U.S. military operations in West Africa, the United States has completed its withdrawal of forces and equipment from an air base in Niamey, the capital of Niger.
The withdrawal, culminating in a joint ceremony on Sunday, is part of a broader plan to comply with a September 15 deadline set by Niger’s ruling junta following last year’s coup.
The next phase of the U.S. exit strategy involves the withdrawal from a crucial drone base in Niger, scheduled for completion in August. This base has been a linchpin in the U.S. counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel region, where militant groups affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State pose a persistent threat.
U.S. Air Force Major General Kenneth Ekman, who is in Niger to oversee the withdrawal, addressed reporters via video conference. He confirmed that the majority of U.S. forces stationed in Niger would be redeployed to various European locations. However, Ekman noted that small contingents of U.S. forces have already been relocated to other countries within West Africa, maintaining a strategic presence in the region.
Despite the strategic retreat, the U.S. is opting not to destroy the equipment and facilities left behind. Major General Ekman emphasized the importance of preserving these assets, stating, “Our goal in the execution is, leave things in as good a state as possible. If we went out and left it a wreck, or if we went out spitefully, or if we destroyed things as we went, we’d be foreclosing options that both nations need for the future. And our security objectives are still entwined.”
The withdrawal represents a considerable setback for U.S. counterterrorism missions in the Sahel, a region where insurgent activities are rampant.
The drone base, in particular, provided a strategic advantage due to its proximity to high-threat areas. With its closure, the U.S. will face increased challenges in conducting operations against these insurgent groups from outside Niger.
Major General Ekman, who also serves as the director of strategy at U.S. Africa Command, revealed that several African nations, concerned about the escalating insurgent threats in the Sahel, have sought to strengthen their partnerships with U.S. forces. “Niger was immensely helpful for us as a location because it was in the Sahel and it was adjacent to those areas where the threat is most concentrated,” he remarked.
The withdrawal underscores the evolving dynamics of U.S. military strategy in Africa and raises questions about future counterterrorism efforts in the region.
With the challenge of maintaining regional security now heightened, the focus shifts to how the U.S. and its African partners will adapt to the new strategic landscape.
As the U.S. makes the final withdrawal of its operations in Niger, the implications of this will unfold in the coming months, reshaping the fight against insurgency in the Sahel.
