In a significant development, the United States has decided to withdraw its more than 1,000 forces from Niger over the coming months, which marks a major setback for U.S. counterterrorism endeavors in the region. The decision comes after over a decade of investing more than $1 billion in Niger.

Niger, a landlocked country surrounded by volatile neighbors, has been grappling with the presence of local militias collaborating with international terror groups such as al Qaeda and ISIS in recent years. The withdrawal of U.S. forces is anticipated to impact the ongoing counterterrorism operations and pose challenges to maintaining regional peace and stability.

A senior U.S. military official, who has served in Niger, expressed immense concern over the impending withdrawal, stating, "This is a devastating blow, both for our regional counterterrorism efforts and to overall peace in the region going forward." The official further emphasized the enormous efforts made by U.S. soldiers in building the capacity of regional forces and providing training, making the withdrawal all the more difficult to accept.

The decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Niger follows a military coup in July 2023, during which Niger's leaders expressed their disinterest in U.S. assistance in guiding the country towards new democratic elections. Instead, they turned towards Russia for security services and engaged in discussions with Iran over potential deals concerning Niger's uranium reserves.

Gen. Michael Langley, the head of the U.S. military's Africa Command, had previously warned the U.S. Congress about the increasing influence of the Russian Federation over several countries in the region. Langley's visit to Niger to meet with the junta leaders did not yield the expected outcome, leading to the suspension of the joint military agreement between the U.S. and Niger. Despite efforts to salvage the relationship, Nigerien officials deemed the security cooperation with the U.S. unfeasible.

Niger's military government had already expelled French forces from the country after last year's coup, signaling a shift in partners. In January, Niger's junta leaders agreed to enhance military cooperation with Russia, which was further reinforced last week with the arrival of a Russian transport plane carrying military trainers and an air defense system.

The region surrounding Niger has experienced multiple successful coups within the last three years alone, with Guinea, Mali, and Burkina Faso expressing their support for Niger's new military leaders. Sources reveal that some of Niger's coup leaders had received military training from the U.S. during previous exercises on the continent.

The U.S. investment in Niger encompasses the construction of two drone bases and a new embassy, totaling over $1 billion. These bases, along with the presence of approximately 1,100 U.S. forces, have played a central role in U.S. operations in the volatile Sahel region, spanning across northern Africa.

The tragic ambush in Tongo Tongo in 2017, where four U.S. soldiers were killed by ISIS militants, first brought attention to U.S. special forces operations in Niger. Recently, a serving member of the U.S. forces in Niger sent an email to Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson, detailing the challenges faced since the coup, stating that they had been instructed to "sit and hold," hindering their mission.

The withdrawal of U.S. forces from Niger has been demanded by Nigeriens, who have actively demonstrated in Niamey, calling for an immediate departure of U.S. soldiers. A visit by another U.S. delegation is scheduled to discuss the withdrawal timeline, which is expected to occur over the next few months.