Recent news in the Sahel has been marked by an important decision by the United States regarding Niger. More than two months after the military coup in Niger, the United States finally decided to label the event a “coup d’état” and announced the removal of $500 million in economic aid. The move reflects a reversal from the initial, more conciliatory stance taken by the United States.
Niger has long been considered a key U.S. ally in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel. Air Base 201 in Agadez, Niger, is a central part of US counter-jihadist operations in the region. This base was inaugurated in 2019 and represents an investment of $100 million for the United States. It hosts approximately 1,100 American troops and is essential for intelligence gathering and monitoring terrorist activities in the Sahel.
The United States’ decision to suspend part of its financial assistance to Niger is linked to strict legal considerations. Under the U.S. Department of State’s Annual Appropriations Act, financial assistance cannot be provided to a country whose elected head of government has been overthrown in a military coup. The move raises questions about the future of military cooperation between the United States and Niger.
Initially, the American strategy was to maintain an ambiguous position to protect the new power resulting from the coup d’état. However, over time it became clear that this position was not viable. Even if the ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum, had been reinstated, military cooperation would have been halted until a new vote was held for the United States. By delaying recognizing the coup, the American president broke his own country’s diplomatic rules.
This decision by the United States also comes in a context where France has begun the withdrawal of its troops from Niger, at the request of the new authorities. Additionally, Niger recently entered into a defensive alliance with putschist neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso. For the United States, maintaining a military partnership with Niger is essential to counter Russian influence and the Wagner militias present in Mali.
The United States’ announcement to suspend part of its economic aid to Niger and to reassess its military cooperation marks a major turning point in the relationship between the two countries. This demonstrates the strategic importance of the Sahel in the fight against terrorism and highlights the challenges faced by international actors in this unstable region.