Niger has put its military agreement with the United States on hold “With immediate effect,” according to Colonel Amadou Abdramane, the spokesperson for the ruling military.
The decision deals a huge blow to US security interests in the region as agreement had allowed US military personnel and civilian defence staff to operate from Niger over the years.
The suspension follows a visit by senior US officials, including Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Molly Phee and US Africa Command head, General Michael Langley, earlier in the week to discuss democratic transition with the Junta.
Speaking, Amadou said the US delegation failed to follow diplomatic protocol, and that they (Niger) were not informed about the composition of the delegation, the date of its arrival or the agenda.
“Niger regrets the intention of the American delegation to deny the sovereign Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and types of partnerships capable of truly helping them fight against terrorism,” Amadou said.
Operating from a major airbase in the city of Agadez, the US military had approximately 650 personnel working in Niger as of December.
The base has been crucial for surveillance flights and operations targeting terrorist groups like ISIL (ISIS) and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) in the Sahel region.