The ruling junta in Niger Republic has announced the revocation of the accord with the United States which allowed the US military to set up a base in the country.
Reuters is reporting that the announcement was made by the spokesman of the ruling junta in Niger, Colonel Amadou Abderamane on Saturday.
This decision effectively puts at risk the two military bases operated by the US military in the country.
One of the bases is used for drone services to target Islamic militants in the Sahel region and was built at the cost of over $100 million.
A high-level US delegation had earlier in the week visited Niger to discuss bilateral issues. The delegation included the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee and the commander of the US Africa Command, General Micheal Langley.
This visit has been cited as by the ruling junta as going against diplomatic protocol and reference was made to the condescending attitude and threats made by the head of the American delegation towards the ruling junta in Niger.
Also, the statement revealed that Niger was neither aware of the number of US civilian and military personnel on its soil nor the type of equipment deployed on the bases. It added that US military was under no obligation to help the Niger in its fight against militants.
The Niger ruling junta also said the accord was illegal, violated the constitution of the country and was unilaterally imposed on the country by the US.
This new position effectively puts an end to the over 1,000 US military personnel stationed in the country.
The Niger ruling military junta since seizing power in a military coup in July 2023, had been at loggerheads with the regional bloc, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The country had announced its withdrawal from the bloc.
Niger has also pivoted away from the western powers with public spats with its former colonial master, France while moving closer to Russia.
The same scenario has played out in Burkina Faso and Mali with ruling juntas taking similar steps after seizing power.
