International news: The rejection of a project to repatriate American troops to Niger
In the United States, the Senate recently voted against a bill calling for the repatriation of American troops based in Niger. This African country experienced a coup d’état last July, overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum. Despite concerns raised by some senators, the proposal was rejected with an overwhelming majority of 86 to 11.
Republican Senator Rand Paul strongly criticized the deployment of American troops in Niger, arguing that their presence at the Agadez air base was inappropriate. According to him, the deployment would have been carried out without the approval of Congress and would endanger the safety of American soldiers, given the unstable political and military context in the country.
However, some Democratic senators refuted these arguments by highlighting the consequences of a withdrawal of American troops from Niger. Ben Cardin, a Democratic senator, warned that this would create a security vacuum that could be filled by other international actors, such as Russia or the mercenaries of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner. This situation would be detrimental to American interests and regional stability.
Pending the resolution of this delicate situation, the Biden administration suspended financial aid of $442 million intended for Niger, considering the government in place illegitimate due to the coup d’état. However, US troops remain based in Agadez, although their operations and military support to Nigerien forces have been suspended.
This decision by the US Senate raises questions about the position of the United States regarding political and security crises abroad. As the Middle East remains a hotbed of tensions, some question whether it makes sense to maintain a contingent of 1,000 troops in Niger, a country ruled by a military junta.
The situation in Niger remains worrying, with a transitional government in place and persistent tensions. In closely following developments in this situation, it is important to ask what the long-term consequences of the US Senate’s decision not to repatriate troops based in Niger will be.