Bundeswehr gives up air transport base in Niger
The military cooperation with Niger, which is overseen by the Foreign Office, will not be "pursued further," the Defense Ministry announced. Training support in areas such as medical services will be continued in limited capacity. Injured and wounded Nigerien soldiers will be treated in German military hospitals. However, political and development cooperation relations remain unaffected by the military developments.
The military in Niger overthrew the democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum in July of last year. Like other countries in the region, it turned to Russia and Iran in response and called for Western troops to leave. France has already withdrawn, and the US is in the process.
After the expiration of the previous agreement, Germany initially negotiated an interim agreement for the Niamey base. This agreement is valid until August 31. However, the recent proposal from the Nigerian government for a new agreement was deemed completely insufficient in Berlin. A major point of contention was that the stationed personnel would no longer enjoy immunity from prosecution.
Currently, there are still 38 female and male soldiers from the Bundeswehr stationed at the base. In addition, there are 33 employees from German and foreign companies. The base has served as a so-called Cold Base in recent times, which is not used but can be quickly activated - for example, for necessary evacuation actions for Germans in Africa. The withdrawal is estimated to take around six weeks, so it should begin in mid-July.
The only existing alternative base for the Bundeswehr in the region is a future Cold Base at the Senegalese capital's airport. It is unstaffed and significantly less well-equipped. Moreover, it is geographically less favorable, as it is located 1000 kilometers west of the base in Niger.
The loss of the base in Niger is another setback for Germany's presence in the Sahel region. Last year, the Bundeswehr had to withdraw from Mali along with other UN Mission Minusma forces. The ruling military junta in Mali has turned to Russia in recent years. The Bundeswehr's withdrawal from Mali used the base in Niger as a hub.
- Despite the Defense Ministry's decision to halt the expansion of military cooperation, medical training support for Nigerien soldiers will continue in a limited capacity.
- Following the coup in Niger, the new government sought support from Russia and Iran, calling for the withdrawal of Western troops, including those from Germany.
- Due to the German government's dissatisfaction with the proposed new agreement, the interim agreement for the Air transport base in Niamey, currently hosting 38 German soldiers and 33 employees, will not be extended past August 31.
- Germany's loss of the Niamey base also impacts its operations in the region, as the Bundeswehr had been using it as a hub for its withdrawal from Mali, which recently turned to Russia for support.
- The German Armed Forces are currently exploring alternatives to the Niamey base, considering a future Cold Base at the Senegalese capital's airport, although it is less well-equipped and geographically less favorable.
