US military intervention in Niger
US military intervention in Niger | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of Jihadist insurgency in Niger and War on terror (Operation Juniper Shield) | |||||||
U.S. and Nigerien soldiers training in April 2018 | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
In support of: Niger (until coup d'état) France (2014–23)[1][2] Training: European Union EUCAP Sahel Niger (2012–24) Canada Operation Naberius (2013–24)[3] Belgium[4] Germany[5] Italy[6] |
Jihadists :Al-Qaeda
| ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Joe Biden (2017–2023) François Hollande (2014–2017) |
Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi † Abu Umaimata | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
1,000 personnel[7] |
ISIL-West Africa: ~3,500 fighters (April 2018) ISGS: ~300 fighters[8] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
5 killed (1 non hostile)[9][10] 5 killed, 8 wounded (While operating with the United States)[12] 1 killed (non hostile) (while operating with the United States)[13] |
32 militants killed in two separate attacks [14][15] Unknown killed in other attacks between 2015 and 2017[16] Unknown killed by drone strikes in Southern Libya At least 1 weapons cache |
The US military intervention in Niger is the deployment of
The deployment of US troops in Niger had been largely unreported until the 2017
In July 2023, the Nigerien coup d'état occurred, leading to the Nigerien crisis.
In April 2024, the
Background
In the last several decades, the
The United States had been providing security assistance to Niger following the
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.[33] Niger's president, Mahamadou Issoufou, welcomed the deployment citing various threats exploiting local government's inability extend its control to rural areas.[34] 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.[35][36]
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.[37][38]
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
December 2017 attack
On December 6, 2017 two months after the October ambush a joint force of American
Other incidents
On February 2, 2017, U.S. commando Shawn Thomas was killed and another injured in a non-combat vehicle accident in Niger.[39]
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.[40]
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.[41] He was released in 2023[42]
Nigerien crisis
On 26 July 2023, The Presidential Guard of Niger detained President
French withdrawal
On 23 August 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.[44][45]
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.[1]
On 22 December 2023, France completed the withdrawal of its troops from Niger.[46]
US withdrawal
On 26 October 2023, the
In March 2024, Niger's ruling military council, known as the CNSP, declared the suspension of a military agreement with the United States.[48] However, Pentagon officials stated that they have not yet formally received this request from Niger.[49]
On 12 April 2024, dozens of Russian military instructors have arrived in Niger as part of a new agreement with the country's junta.[50]
On 19 April 2024, the
Drone base
The United States constructed
See also
- Jihadist insurgency in Niger
- American intervention in Libya (2015–2019)
- American military intervention in Somalia (2007–present)
- United States Africa Command (Niger)
- List of wars involving the United States
References
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- ^ "Niger says all French troops will have left by December 22". Africanews. Africanews. December 16, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ^ Pugliese, David. "Canadian special forces pull out of Niger". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ "Niger coup: Belgium won't suspend development aid". Belga News Agency. Belga News Agency. September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
- ^ "German government to deploy troops to Niger as part of EU mission". Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera. October 3, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Italy cuts troops in Niger to free up military base space for civilians". Reuters. Reuters. September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
- ^ "American military presence in Niger remains at about 1,000, AFRICOM says". Stars and Stripes. Stars and Stripes. December 16, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ^ "U.S. Military Operational Activity in the Sahel". January 25, 2019.
- ^ Callimachi, Rukmini; Cooper, Helene; Schmitt, Eric; Blinder, Alan; Gibbons-Neff, Thomas (February 17, 2018). "'An Endless War': Why 4 U.S. Soldiers Died in a Remote African Desert" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ Myers, Meghann (August 7, 2017). "Army: Green Beret dies in non-combat accident in Niger". Army Times.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Rempfer, Kyle; Myers, Meghann (December 14, 2018). "US special operations soldier injured, French troop killed in car crash in Africa". Army Times.
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- ^ "Niger: French soldier killed in road accident". News Africa. December 10, 2018. Archived from the original on December 24, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
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- ^ a b "US, Nigerien troops kill 11 ISIS militants in previously undisclosed mission". Stars and Stripes.
- ^ Murphy, Mike. "U.S. troops involved in at least 10 undisclosed firefights in West Africa: report". MarketWatch.
- ^ "Deciphering the new CIA drone base in Niger". The Bureau of Investigative Journalism.
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- ^ Walsh, Declan; Schmitt, Eric (March 25, 2018). "U.S. Strikes Qaeda Target in Southern Libya, Expanding Shadow War There". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "Deciphering the new CIA drone base in Niger".
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- ^ Myre, Greg (April 28, 2018). "The Military Doesn't Advertise It, But U.S. Troops Are All Over Africa". NPR.org.
- ^ "U.S. agrees to withdraw American troops from Niger". The Washington Post. The Washington Post. April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Nichols, Michelle (April 9, 2013). "Libya arms fueling conflicts in Syria, Mali and beyond: U.N. experts". U.S. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
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- ^ Pidd, Helen (June 3, 2009). "Background: The kidnapping of Edwin Dyer". the Guardian. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ "French PM declares 'war' on al Qaeda after hostage killed". France 24. July 27, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ Pike, John (January 1, 1970). "VOA News Report". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ Harris, Paul (January 29, 2013). "US signs deal with Niger to operate military drones in west African state". the Guardian. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ "Drone base in Niger gives U.S. a strategic foothold in West Africa". Washington Post. March 22, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ "Drones in Niger Reflect New U.S. Tack on Terrorism". The New York Times. July 10, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ "U.S. Sends Limited Troops To Niger; Will Assist In Intelligence-Gathering". NPR.org. February 22, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ Browne, Ryan (November 15, 2018). "US to reduce number of troops in Africa - CNNPolitics". Cnn.com. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
- ^ Cooper, Helene; Schmitt, Eric (August 1, 2018). "U.S. Prepares to Reduce Troops and Shed Missions in Africa". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "Special Forces soldier dies in accident in Niger".
- ^ "Deadly Crash Highlights Concerns of Misconduct by U.S. Troops in Africa". The New York Times. December 11, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ "Wife of US hostage in Africa reveals captors' ransom demand". AP NEWS. November 17, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ Atwood, Kylie (March 20, 2023). "American citizen held hostage for 6 years in West Africa has been freed | CNN Politics". CNN.
- ^ "Niger soldiers declare coup on national TV". BBC. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ Liebermann, Natasha Bertrand,Oren (August 17, 2023). "Biden administration searching for ways to keep US forces in Niger to continue anti-terror operations despite overthrowing of government | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
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