Did Russia, Iran provoke Niger walkout from US military pact?
Al Jazeera
Niger’s ruling military angered by US accusations of ‘secret deals’ with Iran and partnering with Russia.
Niger has suspended a military agreement with the United States that gave American troops a key base and launchpad in Africa’s Sahel region.
The move, announced on Sunday, follows a row about the African nation’s ties to Russia and Iran, which erupted when US officials visited Niger last week to express their concerns.
What happened and what does it mean now?
The “status of forces” agreement, signed in 2012, allowed about 1,000 US military personnel and civilian defence staff to operate from Niger, which plays a central role in the US military’s operations in the Sahel.
The US military operates Airbase 101 in Niger’s capital, Niamey. Additionally, it operates a major airbase, Airbase 201, near Agadez, a city 920km (572 miles) southwest of Niamey, using it for manned and unmanned surveillance flights and other operations in the Sahel.
