U.S. hopeful of continued military presence in Niger: Pentagon
The United States of America has announced that it is considering maintaining its military presence in Niger.
According to Pentagon’s deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh, the White House and the State Department are still in talks with Nigerien authorities on this issue.
The U.S. defence official added that none of the 1,000 American military officers in Niger have been withdrawn, as reported by the Voice of America.
The development emerged as Niger’s military authorities said it was terminating an agreement that allowed American forces to conduct counterterrorism operations in the country.
According to the report, Ms Singh said that the military junta in Niger is still in communication with the United States, but it has yet to disclose any information regarding a potential timeframe for the withdrawal of American forces from the country.
“We have different lines of communications at all levels of government with Niger and our government,” she said. “Again, we want to see our partnership continue if there is a pathway forward.”
On Saturday, a spokesperson for the military junta in Niger announced that they had cancelled the Status of Forces Agreement with the United States.
The SOFA allowed US forces to operate in the country and collaborate with the Nigerien military to combat terrorist organisations such as al-Qaeda and ISIS.
Amadou Abdramane stated that the decision to revoke the SOFA was based on the perceived “condescending attitude” of US officials during a recent meeting with Nigerien officials in the capital, Niamey.
Last August, Peoples Gazette reported that a top US diplomat, Victoria Nuland, was denied the opportunity to meet with the democratically elected president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum. He was ousted by a military coup faction.
During her visit to the country, Nuland, who was the US acting Deputy Secretary of State, revealed that the coup leaders in Niger were resistant to talks aimed at returning the country to civilian rule.
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