Bundeswehr gives up base in Niger
The negotiations have failed - the Bundeswehr is withdrawing from Niger. The German government could not reach an agreement with the military regime on a status accord for German soldiers. One of the sticking points is the immunity of German soldiers.
The Bundeswehr will abandon its Lufttransportstützpunkt in the West African Niger. Consequently, they will withdraw soldiers from the base. The base in Niamey is scheduled to be closed by August 31st, and the soldiers will be relocated back to Germany. In light of the recent developments, the German government has reassessed the intended cooperation with Niger.
"The draft accord transmitted by Niger cannot serve as a basis for negotiations on a status accord - neither in terms of character nor content," the ministry wrote. "Immunity for German soldiers and civilians is not granted in the draft. Moreover, we lack the time to negotiate a new status accord - the positions are too far apart." Given the inadequate draft accord, the negotiations for a status accord have been suspended, and the military cooperation and capacity-building projects led jointly by the Defense Ministry and the Foreign Office "will no longer be pursued."
The base was a logistical hub for the terminated UN mission Minusma in Mali. As a transshipment point for materials and personnel, the base continues to offer operational options in the strategically important region - for instance, in the case of evacuation operations and emergency situations. It also symbolizes military presence from Germany. Russia has been increasingly militarily active in the region. On July 26, 2021, the military took power in Niger.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius had advocated for continuing cooperation with the putschists to a limited extent and under conditions. For a long time, Niger was considered the last democratic partner of Europe and the USA in the Sahel zone in the fight against terrorism. In the region, Islamist terrorist militias have been spreading since years, which are close to Al-Qaeda and IS.
- Due to the military coup in Niger on July 26, 2021, the German Bundestag has expressed concerns about the future of German defense policy in the region.
- Despite the German Military government's refusal to grant immunity to German soldiers, the German Armed Forces had previously provided support to the country's military operations against Islamist terrorist militias.
- The collapse of the negotiations between the German government and the Military government of Niger has led to the suspension of political talks and military cooperation, including capacity-building projects under the Ministry of Defense.
- The German Armed Forces had been focusing on military operations in Niger as part of the UN mission Minusma in neighboring Mali, using the Lufttransportstützpunkt in Niamey as a logistical hub for materials and personnel.
- In light of the recent developments in Niger and the German government's decision to withdraw troops, German defense policy in the Sahel zone will face significant challenges and shifts, requiring close cooperation with the German Parliament and the German defense community.
