The relationship between the United States and Niger has become strained following a series of diplomatic missteps and policy incoherences by the U.S., leading to the junta in Niger expressing a desire to expel U.S. military forces from the country, declaring their presence "illegal". Key issues cited include senior Washington officials' inability to read the room during visits, the U.S.'s reluctance to label last summer's events in Niger as a coup to protect its billion-dollar drone base, and the perceived slight of equating the assistant secretary of state's rank with that of an African head of state. These incidents have underscored the misguidedness of America's pre-coup policies and the incoherence in current policymaking towards Niger. Despite ongoing closed-door talks by American officials to retain some security presence, anti-American rallies in Niger's capital indicate strong local support for the junta and opposition to U.S. military involvement. This situation has potentially squandered any opportunity for the U.S. to meaningfully pressure the junta on democracy and human rights issues.
US Quietly Trying To Keep Troops In African Country That Wants To Kick Them Out https://t.co/OmOnD8Xw6n
So who knew that dropping in on a junta, blowing off protocol, wagging a finger at them about their behavior and their friends in Moscow and Tehran would have such an effect? @sahelblog on US diplomatic follies in the Sahel: https://t.co/k83DHf7cCv
Days after Niger’s military junta declared the presence of U.S. troops in that West African nation to be “illegal,” American officials are seeking in closed-door talks to determine if they can retain some sort of security presence in the country. https://t.co/rI4aSk404v
.@sahelblog on disaster visit ending w/junta saying they want American military out of Niger: 'To be lectured at by an American official whose rank is far junior to one’s own is an experience that many African officials tolerate, but it cannot be pleasant' https://t.co/vy9cWTqXpq
🇳🇪🇺🇸🚨‼️ Anti-American rallies took place in the capital of Niger yesterday. Residents of Niger demand that the American colonialists get out of their country and fully support the new military government of Niger, which broke the agreement with the United States on the military… https://t.co/zCudXdFe9I https://t.co/wpo6oe14HV
Sadly, U.S. policy incoherence and diplomatic missteps may have squandered, for the medium term, whatever opportunity had existed to place meaningful pressure on the junta over democracy and human rights. More from @sahelblog: https://t.co/k83DHf6EMX
The U.S. may yet salvage something in Niger, but if it exits, that will not necessarily be a tragedy for Nigeriens or Americans, writes @sahelblog https://t.co/k83DHf6EMX
"Going forward, one thing to watch for advocates of restraint is whether and how easily the U.S. can pivot out of Niger." https://t.co/k83DHf7cCv
"The episode underscores both the misguidedness of America’s pre-coup policies towards Niger and the incoherence of current policymaking." - @sahelblog https://t.co/k83DHf7cCv
.@sahelblog : During my time at the State Dept one thing that dismayed me was the assistant secretary of state position was implicitly considered as equivalent in rank to an African head of state. I'm thinking this is No. 2 reason junta was insulted. https://t.co/k83DHf6EMX
The U.S. tiptoed around calling what happened last summer in Niger a coup lest a bellicose statement cost Washington its billion-dollar drone base. The diplomacy didn’t pay off. https://t.co/HwsM5CwbPg
NEW @sahelblog @uofcincy Alex Thurston: Reason no. 1 for why the junta of Niger wants to kick the U.S. military out: the senior Washington officials who stopped in to chat couldn't read the room. MORE: https://t.co/k83DHf6EMX