Sun Sep 15 12:27:45 UTC 2024: ## US Scrambles for Plan B in Sahel After Niger Ejection

**Niamey, Niger/Washington, D.C.** – Following a surprise expulsion of its troops from Niger, the United States is scrambling to find alternative partners in the troubled Sahel region of West Africa. The abrupt end to a decade-long partnership with Niger, which saw the US establish expensive military bases and conduct drone surveillance operations, has been described as a “blow” to Washington’s ambitions for influence in the region.

The US withdrawal was prompted by Niger’s military government, which seized power in July 2023, cancelling a security agreement and demanding the departure of 1,100 US troops by September 15th. This followed months of strained relations, fueled by the US’s refusal to fully endorse the military junta while simultaneously criticizing the coup and suspending aid to Niger.

Experts say the US misjudged the junta’s intentions, believing they could maintain a working partnership. However, the military government’s decision to terminate the security agreement marks a significant setback for the US, potentially degrading its ability to monitor armed groups operating in the volatile tri-border area of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

In response, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) is now exploring partnerships with coastal West African nations, including Benin and Côte d’Ivoire. However, this strategy faces challenges, including a rivalry with Russia, which is actively seeking to expand its influence in the region.

“The US is pivoting to like-minded countries with shared values and shared objectives,” said AFRICOM Commander General Michael Langley. However, the US will need to navigate growing anti-Western sentiment and potential complications arising from its strained relationship with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a group of nations that have aligned with Russia.

The US departure from Niger marks a significant decline in its military presence in West Africa, a region increasingly destabilized by armed groups such as JNIM, the Islamic State Greater Sahara, and the Islamic State West Africa Province. While the US will attempt to maintain a presence in the region through partnerships with coastal nations, the challenges of operating from a distance, navigating local political sensitivities, and potentially operating over Niger airspace pose considerable obstacles.

As the US re-evaluates its strategy in the Sahel, it faces a difficult balancing act: maintaining surveillance and counterterrorism operations while accommodating shifting regional dynamics and competing interests.

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