Highlights: The junta in power in Niger denounced on March 16, 2024 “with immediate effect” the military cooperation agreement signed with the United States in 2012. The National Council for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland (CNSP) affirms that the American presence was “ illegal ” A setback for Washington which has a leading air base in Agadez. It allows it to monitor the entire Sahelo-Saharan strip. Of the thousand American soldiers deployed in Niger, 700 are present on this base where air assets are significant.

The junta in power in Niger therefore denounced on March 16, 2024 “with immediate effect” the military cooperation agreement signed with the United States in 2012. The National Council for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland…

Niger: why the American military base in Agadez is strategic for the United States

The junta in power in Niger therefore denounced on March 16, 2024 “

with immediate effect

” the military cooperation agreement signed with the United States in 2012. The National Council for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland (CNSP) affirms that the American presence was “

illegal

”.

A setback for Washington which has a leading air base in Agadez.

It allows it to monitor the entire Sahelo-Saharan strip.

Details.

[File image] In this photo taken on April 16, 2018, the flags of the United States and Niger are raised side by side at the base camp of air forces and other personnel at Air Base 201 in Agadez.

AP - Carley Petesch

By: RFI Follow

After the French, the American military could in turn be expelled from

Niger

The regime of generals in power in Niamey since the coup d'état of July 26, 2023

denounced on March 16, 2024

with immediate effect

" the military cooperation agreement signed with the United States in 2012, affirming that the American presence was “

illegal

”.

A major setback for the American authorities who have a leading air base in Agadez which allows them to monitor the entire Sahelo-Saharan strip.

Also read: Niger: what happens after the denunciation of the military agreement between Niamey and Washington?

Until the end, the United States thought it could save its military installations, strategic installations since American bases in Africa are rather rare.

US Africom is essentially a footprint in Djibouti and one in Niger in Agadez with air base 201.

Of the thousand American soldiers deployed in Niger, 700 are present on this base where air assets are significant.

According to the latest counts, there are today on the tarmacs two electromagnetic intelligence planes, two maneuvering helicopters and above all around ten MQ 9 Reaper drones.

Format which can swell with peaks of 15 to 20 machines in the event of a crisis.

Reaper drones allow the American army to have a view of the entire Sahel and in particular of Libya, which is the access route to the Mediterranean, and to pose an armed threat there.

This forced departure is therefore a huge setback for Washington which, until then, had been very conciliatory with the junta.

They believed, notes a high-ranking French officer, that they could make friends with General Barmou, chief of staff of the Nigerien armed forces (FAN), trained in the United States.

The United States will now have to find a plan B. “

Perhaps they will be motivated to find a solution with us?

», suggest the French military, because Chad would be the most logical destination, but this is still a blank sheet.

Niger: why the American military base in Agadez is strategic for the United States

Niger: why the American military base in Agadez is strategic for the United States

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