Media: Pentagon will withdraw some non-essential personnel from Niger

The US Department of Defense will redeploy troops and equipment to Niger and withdraw a small number of non-essential personnel “out of an abundance of caution” reported Reuters, citing American officials.

In total, about 1,100 military personnel are stationed in Niger. Some of them will be redirected from Air Base 101 in the capital Niamey to Air Base 201 in Agadez. As the agency notes, this is the first major movement of US troops in Niger since the military coup on July 27.

As a result of the coup, President Mohamed Bazoum was removed, and the leader of the rebellion, the head of the presidential guard, Abdurrahman Tchiani, became the new head of state. On August 10, he signed a decree creating a new government, which included 21 ministers.

Later American media reportedthat the administration of US President Joe Biden is looking for ways to maintain its military presence in Niger. According to the White House, a military presence in Niger is important for the fight against terrorism in the region and is feasible even under the current conditions. Currently, about 1,100 American soldiers and officers are stationed in Niger, as well as over 250 Italian and about 1,500 French military personnel.

Earlier on September 7, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) reported that American intelligence services were discussing the physical elimination of the new leadership of Niger, since Washington was not satisfied with the new government in the republic. The United States, the SVR claims, is thinking about how to “slow down the dangerous trend for the West of turning Africa into one of the centers of power in the multipolar world” and “take control of the French “inheritance” in the strategically important Sahel.”