Niger’s junta scraps US deal to halt Putin’s African march

The military junta ended a decade-long agreement with America as US officials raised concerns about the country’s growing ties with Russia and Iran

Support for Russia is clear on the streets of Niamey. Picture: AFP

Moscow can strengthen its grip on west Africa after the junta in Niger abruptly revoked an agreement with the Pentagon to host a drone base and 1000 American troops in the country.

The west African regime announced that the decade-old accord was illegal after a meeting between generals who seized power in a coup in July and US diplomatic and military officials.

Concerns were raised by the Americans about the escalating Russian military presence since the takeover and the risk of US-funded military resources being ceded to Russia. The US military has two bases in Niger, an air base in the capital, Niamey, and a drone site near Agadez.

Africa's coup belt: Source: The Times

Describing the American approach as “condescending”, the junta’s spokesman said that the delegation had sought “to deny the sovereign Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and type of partners”.

The fall of Niger’s civilian government robbed the West of its most important ally in the Sahel, the region south of the Sahara where affiliates of Islamic State and al-Qa’ida wreak havoc.

The upheaval also completed a 5600km “coup belt” running from Guinea in the west to Sudan in the east, which has become fertile ground for terrorists and Moscow’s proxy army, as well as an alarming prospect for Europe in terms of security threats and the likely flow of migrants fleeing unrest.

Russia has used each of the coups in the Sahel region in recent years to expand its footprint via the Wagner group and its new guise, the Africa Corps.

Wagner deployed 1000 men to Niger’s neighbour Mali last year after Moscow reopened its embassy in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital, following a three-decade absence. Burkina Faso saw the first deployment by the Africa Corps, established by the Kremlin to replace Wagner after Yevgeny Prigozhin, its late leader, launched a failed mutiny against Vladimir Putin last June. In January, Russia said that Niger had agreed to further co-operate with Moscow on defence.

If the US is kicked out of Niger, it would be a blow to the fight against jihadist extremism, officials said.

THE TIMES