US Winds Down Military Operations in Niger Amid Rising Insecurity
The United States is set to withdraw its military personnel from Niger, a landlocked country in West Africa, ahead of a mid-September deadline agreed with the country’s ruling military junta. This move comes after Niger announced the end of its military cooperation with the US, citing rising insecurity and declining economic prospects.
Niger has been a strategic partner for several countries, including the US, France, Germany, Italy, and Russia, in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region. However, despite the presence of foreign military personnel, including the US drone base in Agadez, terrorism has continued to spread in the region.
According to data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, terrorist activities and fatalities have steadily increased since 2014, with the number of attacks rising significantly since 2018. This has led to predictions that the drone base could worsen the security situation and position the country as a magnet for insurgency.
The military junta in Niger cited rising insecurity and declining economic prospects as reasons for taking power. Many Nigeriens have also raised concerns about the presence of foreign military personnel, including the US and France.
While the US has had some successes in the region, including supporting the establishment of a joint task force to combat terrorism, its efforts have not weakened terrorist organizations in Niger and the Sahel region more broadly. According to Olayinka Ajala, a senior lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Leeds Beckett University, three main factors explain the US’s failure in Niger: the lack of understanding of local conflict dynamics, the inability to address the root causes of terrorism, and the disconnect between human rights adherence and counter-terrorism.
Ajala argues that the US and its allies have focused too much on military operations without addressing the economic reasons for terrorism. Research has shown a link between poverty and terrorism, and poor economic prospects, unemployment, and a large youth population have contributed to the expansion of terrorist groups in Niger.
The US’s emphasis on human rights in the fight against terrorism has also pushed Niger and other juntas to embrace Russia and China, which do not put restrictions on weapons sales based on human rights records. Niger has been building stronger military ties with Russia lately.
Insecurity and terrorism in Niger are complex and difficult to solve, and some of the failings of the US are not its fault. However, the US should rethink its security alliances, making sure the will of ordinary citizens is catered for.
The withdrawal of US military personnel from Niger marks a significant shift in the country’s security landscape, and it remains to be seen how this will impact the fight against terrorism in the region.
