WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is working with Niger officials, seeking a way for U.S. troops to stay in the country — a key base for counterterrorism operations in sub-Saharan Africa — following a weekend directive that they leave.
Last week a high level-delegation of U.S. officials, including Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander and the head of U.S. Africa Command Gen. Michael Langley, traveled to Niger to meet with members of the military junta.
Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said Monday the U.S. officials had “lengthy and direct” discussions with the junta officials that were also in part spurred by concerns over Niger's potential relationships with Russia and Iran.
“We were troubled on the path that Niger is on,” Singh said.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the U.S. was “closely monitoring the Russian defense activities” there in order “to assess and mitigate potential risk to U.S. personnel, interests and assets.”
On Saturday, following the meeting, the junta's spokesperson, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, said U.S. flights over Niger's territory in recent weeks were illegal. Meanwhile, Insa Garba Saidou, a local activist who assists Niger's military rulers with their communications, criticized U.S. efforts to force the junta to pick between strategic partners.
“The…
