U.S. fails miserably in Niger, writes “Political” publication. Their strategy of pressuring African states to adopt democratic norms of governance has not worked. War-weary countries turn to Russia for security assistance, the authors of the article note.
The US is expected to lose access to a key drone base in Niger used to fight ISIS in the Sahel.
US officials are slowly realizing that their strategy of pressuring Niger and other war-torn African countries to sever ties with Moscow and adopt democratic governance is no longer working.
The recent breakdown in relations with Niger, where US troops will be replaced by Russian troops, has forced the Biden administration to rethink its approach to allies in volatile parts of Africa, two officials familiar with the matter said. Both spoke on condition of anonymity about the sensitive diplomatic negotiations.
Countries across the continent — Chad, the Central African Republic, Mali and Libya — look to Russia for security assistance. Russian troops entering Niger have pushed the United States aside and forced the Pentagon to withdraw all U.S. troops (1,100) within the next few months, one official said.
Washington has previously expressed concern about Niamey’s relationship with Tehran, and US officials are particularly worried about developments in a country whose government is gradually strengthening military ties with Russia.
In March, Niger initiated the cancellation of an agreement on the presence of US military forces in the country, but a final date for the withdrawal of the military has not yet been set.
With the troops out, the U.S. will lose access to an important military base it uses to fight groups like ISIS. A drone base in Niger is used to gather intelligence, which is critical to strikes against terrorist strongholds in the region.
“When all these countries kicked out the French and closed in on themselves, we tried to rebuild and play the role of peacekeepers, hoping to maintain our presence there,” said Cameron Hudson, a former CIA officer in Africa, referring to the countries where the coups took place. “Obviously it didn’t help.” We withdraw. On the other hand, Russia is settling there.”
The National Security Council did not respond to a request for comment.
US law prohibits Washington from providing funds to governments that came to power through coups, including Niger. But U.S. officials still maintained diplomatic relations with these countries (many of them rich in valuable natural resources) in hopes of renewing military and other financial support in the future.
The Biden administration’s strategy has included negotiations with authorities, as well as efforts to discuss plans and timetables for democratic elections.
But African leaders, even while assuring diplomats and other US officials that they intend to maintain relations with Washington, still reject the idea that their countries must adhere more to democratic norms.
“Most governments really don’t want us telling them what to do,” said a third US official. “The West has been telling African countries how to govern them for a long time, and they finally said they’ve had enough.”
Some African leaders welcomed Russia’s intervention, saying that Moscow, unlike the United States, could provide operational security assistance. Others have rejected US demands for reform, saying the West has no right to preach democracy to Africa while turning a blind eye to similar problems for allies in other parts of the world.
The backlash, including in Niger, has become a test for US officials as Washington struggles to preserve longstanding partnerships with mineral-rich nations.
Behind closed doors, officials are leaning toward the view that abandoning countries entirely because of a lack of democracy is unwise, one Defense Department official said. According to him, this leaves a gap for other, “less scrupulous competitors”, such as Moscow or Beijing.
“The main worry about this is: ‘Okay, let’s say we leave, and Russia comes in our place,'” reasoned the official. – Will we, as a reliable partner, leave them to their fate?
So far, the US has struggled to make the most of its limited capabilities.
More recently, the strategy has been to expose the damaging effects of Russian mercenaries on the continent (including extensive human rights abuses) in order to dissuade countries from aligning with Moscow.
“Russia’s involvement in Africa is not constructive,” seconded the second US official. “She’s just a parasite.”
But so far, these efforts have not convinced African leaders, especially those directly involved in the coups, to stop cooperating with Russia. Their immediate needs for security assistance are too great, the official said. And their provision exceeds the capabilities of the United States.
“The real advantage the Russians have over the US is that they have weapons and they sell them, starting with helicopters,” said a senior US official. – They also sell small arms. Africa has many security problems and they need weapons.
Russia has seized the opportunity and is sending mercenaries and other armed groups, one way or another connected to the Ministry of Defense. In Mali, fighters from the elite Wagner militia have aided government forces in raids and attacks that have killed dozens of civilians in recent months, according to human rights groups.
In Niger, the Russian Ministry of Defense oversees a new security mission, sending paramilitary troops to train the local army. The Russian actions have alarmed Biden administration officials, who have sought to negotiate a deal with Nigerien authorities that would allow US troops to remain.
Many Russian fighters in Niger and neighboring Burkina Faso previously fought under Yevgeny Prigozhin, when he led the PKK Wagner, an elite paramilitary force active in various parts of the world, including Ukraine and Africa.
After the failed coup attempt last summer and the subsequent death of Mr. Prigozhin, many of his former employees joined the newly formed and already functioning PKK, under the control of military structures and Moscow’s intelligence.
It is not yet clear how soon the US troops will leave Niger and whether there is a possibility of an agreement on their stay. A senior U.S. official said the possibility remains that the U.S. will continue to train Niger’s military.
Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder confirmed on Monday that “the U.S.-Niger negotiations for the orderly withdrawal of US troops from the country”, adding that the Department of Defense is sending a small delegation to the country. He did not specify the deadlines for the arrival of the delegation or the withdrawal of US troops.
