US military intervention in Niger

Last updated

US military intervention in Niger
Part of Jihadist insurgency in Niger and War on terror (Operation Juniper Shield)
US and Nigerien soldiers trining.jpg
U.S. and Nigerien soldiers training in April 2018
Date5 February 2013 – 5 August 2024
(11 years and 6 months)
Location
Niger
Result

Failure of American forces in suppressing jihadists [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

  • Niger's junta ended a military agreement that allowed US troops to be deployed in the country [5]
  • US lost access to Niger Air Base 201, largest drone base in Africa built by the United States for $110 million [6]
  • Beginning of new military cooperation between Niger and Russia [7]
  • Jihadi groups linked to Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State group and Boko Haram remained still active in Niger in 2024 [8] [9] [10] [11]
Belligerents

Flag of the United States.svg  United States

In support of:
Flag of Niger.svg  Niger
(until coup d'état)
Flag of France.svg  France
Operation Barkhane
(2014–23) [12] [13]
Training:
Flag of Europe.svg  European Union
EUCAP Sahel Niger
(2012–24)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Operation Naberius
(2013–24) [14]
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium [15]
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany [16]
(2015–2024) [17]
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy [18]

Jihadists:
Flag of Jihad.svg Al-Qaeda

Islamic State flag.svg  ISIL

Commanders and leaders

Flag of the United States.svg Joe Biden
(2021–2024)
Flag of the United States.svg Donald Trump
(2017–2021)
Flag of the United States.svg Barack Obama
(2013–2017)
Flag of the United States.svg Jim Mattis
Flag of the United States.svg Thomas D. Waldhauser
Flag of the United States.svg James C. Vechery

Flag of France.svg Emmanuel Macron
(2017–2023)
Flag of France.svg François Hollande
(2014–2017)

Flag of Jihad.svg Iyad Ag Ghaly

Islamic State flag.svg Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi   †
Islamic State flag.svg Abubakar Shekau   †
Islamic State flag.svg Abu Musab al-Barnawi
Islamic State flag.svg Doundou Chefou

Flag of Jihad.svg Abubakar Shekau   †

Flag of Jihad.svg Abu Umaimata
Strength
1,000 personnel [19] ISIL-West Africa: ~3,500 fighters (April 2018)
ISGS: ~300 fighters [20]
Casualties and losses

Flag of the United States (Pantone).svg 5 killed (1 non hostile) [21] [22]
4 injured (2 non hostile) [23]

Flag of Niger.svg 5 killed, 8 wounded (While operating with the United States) [24]

Flag of France.svg 1 killed (non hostile) (while operating with the United States) [25]

32 militants killed in two separate attacks [26] [27]

Unknown killed in other attacks between 2015 and 2017 [28]

Unknown killed by drone strikes in Southern Libya

At least 1 weapons cache

The US military intervention in Niger was the deployment of special operations forces and unmanned aerial vehicles by the United States in support of the Nigerien government and French military in counter-terrorism operations against militant groups in Niger as part of Operation Juniper Shield. [29] The deployment of U.S. forces in Niger and in the greater West Africa region involved the training of host nation partner forces, enhancement of host nation security assistance efforts, and facilitated counter-terrorism and surveillance and reconnaissance missions in support of host nation partner forces. [30] The U.S. deployed drones from the Air Force and CIA in order to assist American and Nigerien forces in counter-terrorism operations, monitor routes used by militants in Niger into neighboring nations, and to assist operations in Libya. [31] [32] [33]

The deployment of US troops in Niger had been largely unreported until the 2017 Tongo Tongo ambush by Islamic State in the Greater Sahara militants left four American and four Nigerien soldiers dead. [34] [35] [36] The ambush created controversy in the public and media with many people asking as to why the US had so many troops across Africa and specifically Niger which at the time had more than 800 US personnel in country. [37]

In July 2023, the Nigerien coup d'état occurred, leading to the Nigerien crisis.

In April 2024, the US Department of State agreed to pull out all 1,000 US troops from the country. [38] The Pentagon confirmed that US troops would complete their withdrawal from Niger by mid-September 2024. [39] The process was complete by 5 August 2024. [40]

After 11 years of US military presence, Jihadi groups linked to Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State group and Boko Haram remained still active with numerous attacks and dozens killed in Niger in 2023 and 2024. [8] [9] [10] [11]

Background

In the last several decades, the Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa has been heavily affected by the rise of Islamic terrorist groups and militias as a result of the region's porous borders, weak central governments, ethnic factionalism, and more recently an influx of arms following the collapse of the Gaddafi regime in Libya. [41] Groups such as al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, and Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa, among others have flourished in the region's sprawling and unpoliced deserts. [42] Niger has been a particularly violent hotbed of Islamic extremism and anti-government attacks. Kidnappings of Westerners in the country date back to as early as 2009 and the execution of a French hostage, Michel Germaneau, in 2010 led to a French declaration of war on AQIM and a greater involvement of French military forces in Niger. [43] [44]

A Lockheed C-130 Hercules of the U.S. Air Force at Mano Dayak International Airport, Agadez Niger, Agadez, airport (04), US Lockheed C-130.jpg
A Lockheed C-130 Hercules of the U.S. Air Force at Mano Dayak International Airport, Agadez

The United States had been providing security assistance to Niger following the September 11 attacks as part of the Pan-Sahel Initiative which included the allocation of equipment to security forces and periodic training of Nigerien forces by U.S. troops. [45]

First lady of the United States Jill Biden tours the U.S. Exercise Relief Facility in Niger Jill Biden in Niger, July 2016 12.jpg
First lady of the United States Jill Biden tours the U.S. Exercise Relief Facility in Niger

In January 2013, the United States and Niger signed a status of forces agreement to allow U.S. troops and aircraft to operate in Niger in a non-combat capacity in order to support French counterterrorism efforts. [46] Niger's president, Mahamadou Issoufou, welcomed the deployment citing various threats exploiting local government's inability to extend its control to rural areas. [47] According to U.S. and Nigerien officials, the deployment of unarmed Predator drones was to provide surveillance capabilities over Mali and Niger. The following month, the Obama administration deployed a force of about 100 U.S. troops to Niger in order to facilitate the drone operation in Niamey and partner with French intelligence. [48] [49]

In 2018 the Trump Administration and the United States Africa Command laid out plans to withdraw around 25% of all US Military forces in Africa with around 10% withdrawing from West Africa so they could focus on threats from Russia and China while still remaining in the area. [50] [51]

Attacks

Between 2015 and 2017, American personnel had been involved in at least 10 firefights while operating with partner Nigeriens. In these past firefights excluding the October 2017 ambush no American or Nigerien personnel were killed or wounded. In some of the attacks enemy combatants had been killed with at least 32 killed in the October and December 2017 incidents.

Tongo Tongo ambush

On October 4, 2017 a joint American and Nigerien force of 46 personnel and eight vehicles was ambushed outside the village of Tongo Tongo by an estimated force of over 50 militants with around 20 motorcycles and 12 technicals from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS). During the firefight which lasted for more than three hours, four American, four Nigerien and at least 21 ISGS militants died and eight Nigerien and two Americans including the teams commander were wounded. The battle came to an end after French Mirage 2000 fighter jets and helicopters carrying 53 special forces and three Nigerien response elements of at least 100 soldiers and a helicopter reached the village, however the fight was over as the enemy had departed the area.

December 2017 attack

U.S. and Nigerien soldiers train together in Diffa Flintlock 2017 marksmanship training in Niger 170228-A-BB790-003.jpg
U.S. and Nigerien soldiers train together in Diffa

On December 6, 2017 two months after the October ambush a joint force of American Green Berets and Nigerien soldiers were attacked by Islamic State – West Africa Province militants in the Chad Lake basin Region. During the firefight 11 militants died including two wearing suicide vests, one weapons cache was also destroyed during the operation. No American or Nigerien soldiers were killed or wounded. [27]

Other incidents

On February 2, 2017, U.S. commando Shawn Thomas was killed and another injured in a non-combat vehicle accident in Niger. [52]

On December 9, 2018 a French soldier was killed and a US servicemember was injured in a car accident in northern Niger, near Arlit. Both the French and US military are probing the incident as drinking while driving related. [53]

In October 2016, American humanitarian Jeffrey Woodke was kidnapped from his home by armed men. He is believed to be held by Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JMIN), and a ransom has been demanded. [54] He was released in 2023 [55]

Nigerien crisis

On 26 July 2023, The Presidential Guard of Niger detained President Mohamed Bazoum in a coup d'état, with presidential guard commander General Abdourahamane Tchiani suspending the Nigerien constitution, and declaring himself to be the leader of a new military junta. [56] This has sparked a military crisis between the Nigerian Junta and the combined militaries of the Economic Community of West African States, who are calling for a restoration of Bazoum's presidency.

French withdrawal

On August 23, 2023, the junta announced that it will evict French and US troops from Niger even though the USA was trying to find ways to keep troops in the country to counter terrorists. [57] [58]

In September 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will withdraw all 1,500 troops from Niger by the end of 2023, in the aftermath of the coup in the country. [12]

On December 22, 2023, France completed the withdrawal of its troops from Niger. [59]

US withdrawal

A U.S. Air Force member hands a bottle of water to a local child near Air Base 201 409th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Quick Reaction Force member.jpg
A U.S. Air Force member hands a bottle of water to a local child near Air Base 201

On October 26, 2023, the U.S. Senate rejected legislation that would have forced President Joe Biden to withdraw US troops from Niger. [60]

In March 2024, Niger's ruling military council, known as the CNSP, declared the suspension of a military agreement with the United States. [61] However, Pentagon officials stated that they have not yet formally received this request from Niger. [62]

On April 12, dozens of Russian military instructors have arrived in Niger as part of a new agreement with the country's junta. [7]

On April 19, the U.S. Department of State agreed to pull out all 1,000 US troops from the country. [63] [38] On May 15, US and Nigerien officials met in Niamey to discuss and coordinate the forces withdrawal. [64] Pentagon confirmed that US troops will complete their withdrawal from Niger by mid-September 2024. [39]

On July 7, U.S. completed withdrawal of all troops from Air Base 101, while 500 remaining troops left Air Base 201 on August 5, 2024. [65] [66]

Drone base

A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III taking off from the Air Base 201 C-17 takeoff Niger Air Base 201.jpg
A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III taking off from the Air Base 201

The United States constructed Niger Air Base 201 in the city of Agadez after the Nigerien government granted approval for the base in 2014. After several years of construction, the base began operations in 2019 and has since became the central hub U.S. operations in Niger, shifting away from Niamey. The air base has a 6,800 foot runway and cost approximately $110 million to complete. The base allowed U.S. drones to fly missions over the region and maintained the ability to accommodate large transport aircraft such as the C-17 Globemaster. [67] [68]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tongo Tongo ambush</span> 2017 attack on Nigerien and US soldiers by Islamist militants in Niger

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This article lists events from the year 2023 in Niger.

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This article lists events from the year 2024 in Niger.

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On August 15, 2023, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) ambushed Nigerien soldiers near Koutougou, a village on the border between Niger and Mali. The ambush killed at least seventeen Nigerien soldiers, and was the first major attack by a jihadist group on Nigerien forces since the 2023 Nigerien coup d'état.

References

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  3. ↑ "The US War on Terror in West Africa Is a Continuing Disaster". Jacobin. July 3, 2024.
  4. ↑ "America's $280 Million Military Mission in Niger Ends in Failure". Reason. July 3, 2024.
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  7. 1 2 "Russian military trainers arrive in Niger as African country pulls away from US". The Guardian. April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  8. 1 2 "Niger attack: Jihadists kill dozen of soldiers in deadliest raid since coup". BBC. May 1, 2024.
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  27. 1 2 "US, Nigerien troops kill 11 ISIS militants in previously undisclosed mission". Stars and Stripes.
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  38. 1 2 "On the Withdrawal of U.S. Troops from Niger". U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State. April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  39. 1 2 "US to complete withdrawal from Niger by Sept. 15". Reuters. May 19, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
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  56. ↑ "Niger soldiers declare coup on national TV". BBC. July 26, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
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  59. ↑ "Last French troops leave Niger as military cooperation officially ends". reuters . Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  60. ↑ "US Senate rejects bid to remove troops from Niger". Reuters. Reuters. October 26, 2023. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
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  62. ↑ "US says it has not received a formal request by Niger junta to leave military bases". AP News . Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  63. ↑ "U.S. agrees to withdraw American troops from Niger". The Washington Post. April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
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  65. ↑ "U.S. troops leaving Niger bases this weekend and in August after coup, officials say". CBC News. CBC News. July 7, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
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  68. ↑ Babb, Carla (November 1, 2019). "US-Constructed Air Base in Niger Begins Operations". VOA. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
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