Withdrawal of U.S. Forces From Niger Shifts Counterterrorism Efforts to Neighboring Nations Amid Rising Extremist Threats.
The U.S. military’s withdrawal from Niger, following the country’s July 2023 coup, has forced a recalibration of American counterterrorism strategies across West Africa. Major General Kenneth Ekman, former AFRICOM director for West Africa, highlighted in a recent interview the strategic importance of Niger, the repercussions of losing this key partner, and how the U.S. is adapting to the growing extremist threat in the Sahel.
After the coup, the U.S. repositioned about 1,100 troops, drones, and other equipment across the region. While American forces no longer operate from Niger’s key bases, the U.S. is forging new partnerships in neighboring countries, such as Cote d’Ivoire, Benin, and Chad. Ekman emphasized the importance of these relationships, particularly as violent extremist organizations (VEOs) continue to spread through the region, threatening both local and global security.
Niger was the U.S.’s primary foothold in the Sahel, a region plagued by extremist violence, primarily from groups affiliated with ISIS and al-Qaeda. Ekman referred to the withdrawal as a “strategic setback” but highlighted that the U.S. remains committed to supporting regional security efforts.
With American forces now positioned in countries like Benin and Cote d’Ivoire, Ekman explained the shift from an “inside-out” strategy—where forces operated within Niger to counter VEOs in the surrounding Sahel region—to an “outside-in” approach. This new strategy involves deploying intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets and special forces teams in neighboring nations to monitor and respond to extremist activities.
Sanctions imposed on Niger’s military junta have further complicated any immediate return to the previous level of cooperation. Ekman noted that the future of U.S.-Niger relations depends largely on the junta’s actions and whether Niger seeks to rebuild its partnership with the U.S. However, the broader security situation in the Sahel is rapidly deteriorating, with extremist attacks becoming more lethal since the coup.
Ekman expressed concerns that losing Niger as a partner has hindered intelligence-sharing and collaboration, vital tools in combating VEOs in the region. Despite this, he remains cautiously optimistic that relationships with other West African nations will help fill the gap left by Niger.
The violent extremist threat in West Africa continues to evolve. The region is becoming increasingly opaque, with terrorist groups like Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) and ISIS elements both competing and collaborating. Ekman warned that the lack of access and ISR makes it more challenging to assess the groups’ intentions, especially regarding potential external operations.
As the U.S. and its partners adapt to these challenges, Ekman emphasized the need for continued intelligence-sharing and military cooperation to address the region’s rising security concerns. While the U.S. presence in Niger is significantly reduced, the repositioning of forces in West Africa underscores Washington’s ongoing commitment to countering extremism in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
The U.S. military’s strategy in West Africa is now focused on leveraging partnerships with countries like Chad, Benin, and Cote d’Ivoire, where ongoing negotiations aim to balance U.S. assistance with local security priorities. With the situation in Niger still in flux, Ekman underscored that keeping “all options on the table” will be essential for addressing both immediate and long-term threats posed by VEOs in the Sahel.
As violent extremist groups continue to exploit instability across West Africa, the U.S. faces the challenge of maintaining influence in a region critical to global security, even as it navigates the complex political realities left in the wake of the Niger coup.
