The US was asked to withdraw troops from Niger due to threats US officials made to the country over its relationships with Russia and Iran, Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine told The Washington Post.
Niger announced it ended its military relationship with the US back in March and said the US presence was no longer legally justified. Officials said at the time that Niger took the steps due to the US not respecting the country’s sovereignty.
Zeine, who was appointed by a military junta after a July 2023 coup, elaborated on the reason for ordering the US withdrawal. He pointed to comments made by Molly Phee, the State Department’s top official for African affairs, who warned Niger against strengthening relations with Russia and said it could affect US military support. She also threatened sanctions if Niger went through with a potential uranium deal with Iran.
“When she finished, I said, ‘Madame, I am going to summarize in two points what you have said,’” said Zeine. “First, you have come here to threaten us in our country. That is unacceptable. And you have come here to tell us with whom we can have relationships, which is also unacceptable. And you have done it all with a condescending tone and a lack of respect.”
Zeine also said Niger was unhappy with the US for freezing military assistance following the coup and not helping with the fight against terrorists while remaining in the country. “The Americans stayed on our soil, doing nothing while the terrorists killed people and burned towns,” he said. “It is not a sign of friendship to come on our soil but let the terrorists attack us. We have seen what the United States will do to defend its allies, because we have seen Ukraine and Israel.”
The US has said it will comply with Niger’s order to leave, and the Pentagon ordered a withdrawal it says will take place over the next few months. However, the US is dragging its feet and is claiming negotiations could lead to a reversal of Niger’s decision. But Niamey has shown no sign that it’s open to a new deal with the US, and a whistleblower has said by refusing to leave Niger, the administration has put US troops in danger.
US troops stationed at Airbase 101 in Niamey are now sharing the base with Russian soldiers. Most US personnel in the country are at Airbase 201 in Agadez, a major drone base that cost over $100 million to build and acts as a hub for US operations in the Sahel, a foothold the US doesn’t want to give up.
Dude just wants to be on the winning team. We’ll see more of this. As the old saying goes…..
Failure is an orphan
Success has a thousand fathers
What Africa wants is respect. PM Zeine’s comments are not new territory, in fact a common refrain. Overheard of an African state official to their US counterpart: “When China talks it’s about an airport. When you talk it’s a lecture.” The US is not listening.
Also, when China loans money it’s for an airport. When the US loans money it’s for weapons or resources for extractive industries.
Lol, good point, and why we sow conflict and chaos throughout the world and China doesn’t.
co·lo·ni·al·ism
/kəˈlōnyəˌlizəm/
noun
the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.
“the state apparatus that was dominant under colonialism”and then of course there is NEO!!!!
Che was right, wasnt he????
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d0196a005b7fb1781f9444bc9bd9534434dcac134953808f2ffb2ac90b6c355c.jpg
comments made by Molly Phee, the State Department’s top official for African affairs
Sounds like Victoria Nuland has a protege.
They never run out of neo-conns.
Newland’s little project in Ukraine is not the type of roaring success her recent ignominious dismissal is not the look that anyone in government or business seeks.
I wonder if she got the 10% for the “The Big Guy” as it was characterized when the deals were in the double & triple digits of billions Hard to beliave she didn’t take “just a few” as her commission for $5,000 millioms that made up the five billion.
“When she finished, I said, ‘Madame, I am going to summarize in two points what you have said,’” said Zeine. “First, you have come here to threaten us in our country. That is unacceptable. And you have come here to tell us with whom we can have relationships, which is also unacceptable. And you have done it all with a condescending tone and a lack of respect.”
If only other nations had the guts to say the same thing to meddling foreign governments (yes, I’m looking at you, Washington).
The US has said it will comply with Niger’s order to leave, and the Pentagon ordered a withdrawal it says will take place over the next few months.
And how long did it take to mobilize enough forces to do Iraq in 1990?
By November 1990, the adoption of UNSC Resolution 678 officially issued Iraq an ultimatum to withdraw unconditionally by 15 January 1991 or else be removed by “all necessary means” from Kuwaiti territory.
I don’t know if the mobilization started before November but I’m thinking the vast majority of the mobilization happened after the resolution was adopted. So, why would removing a much, much smaller force form Niger take a similar amount of time?
The Sun never Sets on the American Empire.
Seems to me this is an example of the sun setting on the American Empire or was the /s implied?
American troops have yet to get out of Niger according to the article.
I was referring to Zeine’s commentary.
I had no idea the US had troops in Niger. Why?
They came with the $100M drone base 🙂
A blockade of incoming supplies is needed.
If only the Washington political caste had one such to stand against The Lobby.
Uncle Sam the leech.