Recent reports suggest that the US military’s drone flights in Niger have been curtailed since the political upheaval that transpired in July, a move that experts believe is adversely impacting the international counterterrorism mission in West Africa.
Two US officials disclosed this information to VOA, choosing to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the security issues involved. Since the coup in July, the Pentagon has been cautious about sharing the specifics of its security and counterterrorism operations, merely acknowledging the suspension of ‘security cooperation’ with Niger.
Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon’s press secretary, acknowledged the unusual nature of the situation, stating that it is ‘clearly’ not normal for the US military. He emphasised that the US force posture in Niger remains unchanged as they hope for a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing political situation.
Niger serves as a pivotal hub for US military counterterror intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance efforts in West Africa. The region has been grappling with various militant groups, including the Islamic State group and Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, primarily based in Mali but active across West Africa.
Concerns have been raised by current and former US officials about the limited availability of intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance resources. They argue that this constraint could undermine international efforts aimed at assisting local security forces in combating terrorist organizations.
Bill Roggio, a former soldier and editor of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Long War Journal, expressed his apprehensions, stating, ‘The United States is barely keeping a lid on this problem, and when you remove that, when you remove all of those enablers that help keep these jihadists from overrunning countries or overrunning regions, then you are giving them an advantage.’
The US military has the capability to conduct drone flights from Niger’s capital, Niamey, and has also established another air base in Agadez, situated hundreds of kilometres away. This additional base extends the reach of surveillance and reconnaissance missions into the volatile Lake Chad Basin area, encompassing Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. Intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance drone missions have been conducted from Agadez since 2019.
Retired Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the former commander of US military operations in the Middle East, emphasised the significance of these missions. He stated that limiting such operations has a ‘significant effect’ on the military’s ability to carry out counterterror operations, impacting their capacity to locate targets and execute attacks effectively.
The jihadist threat is multifaceted, as these groups not only use countries in the region as a base to potentially target the West and Western interests but also cause widespread devastation among local populations.
Last month, at least 17 Nigerien soldiers were killed in an attack by armed groups near the Malian border, as reported by Niger’s Defence Ministry.
In neighbouring Mali, where a 2020 coup left military leaders in charge, the Islamist threat continues to grow. Despite claims by Mali’s military regarding the impact of Russian Wagner Group mercenaries, the region remains vulnerable to extremist activities.
Roggio expressed his concerns about the regional political discord, suggesting that West Africa could become the next area to succumb to jihadist control. He asked, ‘If the US is not able to fly counterterrorism missions from Niger, is Mali the next state to fall after Afghanistan?’
This revelation regarding limited drone flights coincides with the announcement that Niger’s airspace has reopened to all commercial flights after being closed since the military takeover on August 6. However, a US military official clarified that this change had not yet ‘normalised’ US drone flight frequencies.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has confirmed the repositioning of some of its troops and military equipment within Niger, from the base in Niamey to the Agadez base. Deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh clarified that there are no immediate threats to US troops or violence on the ground. The repositioning is considered a “precautionary measure.’
Agadez’s Air Base 201 is under the control of Nigerien forces, with the US military having exclusive rights to approximately 20 percent of the compound as of 2019. Currently, there are approximately 1,100 US military personnel stationed in Niger.
Sabrina Singh noted that the repositioning of US forces in Niger is an ongoing process, aimed at ensuring the safety and security of US military personnel amidst the evolving political landscape in the region.
