Withdrawal from the Sahel - Bundeswehr to leave West Africa
In the aftermath of failed negotiations with the military regime in Niger, the German military will relinquish its last base in West Africa. The air transport support point in Niger's capital Niamey is scheduled to close by August 31st, and soldiers are to be redeployed back to Germany, according to the Defense Ministry's briefing to the officers of the Bundestag. The base, which previously employed around 100 German soldiers and civilians, had been a logistical hub for the UN mission Minusma in the stabilization of neighboring Mali, which ended at the end of the previous year upon request from the military regime there.
After a preliminary agreement in May, the long-term cooperation arrangement failed due to differing views on future collaboration.
The Ministry saw no chance of an agreement
"The draft agreement submitted by Niger cannot serve as a basis for negotiations on a status agreement for us – neither in terms of character nor content," wrote the Ministry. "Immunity for German soldiers and civilians is not granted in it. At the same time, we lack the time to negotiate a new status agreement – the positions are too far apart." According to a report in "Spiegel," Niamey had demanded German training for Nigerien soldiers and weapons deliveries.
Following coups in Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger was the last European and US partner in the Sahel region in the fight against terrorism. However, in July of last year, the military seized power there as well. The elected president Mohamed Bazoum remains under house arrest and is accused of treason. Islamist terrorist militias have been spreading in the region for over a decade, which are linked to Al-Qaeda and IS. According to conflict data organization Acled, at least 14,000 people have been killed in the three countries since 2023, with at least a third of them civilians.
The German government had repeatedly emphasized its desire to remain in dialogue with the regimes in the region despite all the difficulties – even with the military juntas that have repeatedly postponed announced elections. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius was the first German minister and highest-ranking representative of an EU country to fly to Niger for talks with the military rulers in December, offering to continue projects. Development Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD) also tried to extend a hand to the junta in Burkina Faso.
"Europe plays almost no role in the Sahel anymore"
The German military support point in Niamey was also to continue serving as a hub for material and personnel, opening up further options for action in the strategically important region – for example, in the case of evacuation operations and emergency situations – and at the same time demonstrating military presence of Germany. However, Niger is turning to Russia instead and has been hosting Russian military personnel – officially trainers – on a base in Niamey for some time. Almost all other former partners have been expelled.
This weekend, the USA will also leave their base in Niamey, before they have to vacate their strategically important drone base in Agadez, the desert city, in the coming weeks. By September 15th, all US troops are expected to have left the country. Niamey announced the cooperation's end due to arrogance from Washington. French anti-terror troops had to withdraw, like from Mali and Burkina Faso, in a heavy conflict between Paris and the military last year.
"It's sad that Germany couldn't come to an agreement with Niger," said Ulf Laessing, Sahel expert at the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation in Bamako, to dpa. "The base was the last hope that Germany still had some influence in a country through which the main migration route from Sub-Saharan Africa to Libya passes. The summit meeting of the Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso leaders at this weekend's G7+ summit shows that Europe no longer plays a significant role in the Sahel." The three junta leaders met in Niamey on Saturday for the first official summit of the Sahel Alliance States (AES), a defense alliance founded by them last autumn.
The Defense Ministry emphasized that military cooperation with Niger would no longer be pursued, but political and development-political relations would remain unaffected. Bilateral programs in "non-lethal areas" were also to be continued, and wounded Nigerien soldiers were to be treated in German military hospitals.
- Despite Russia's presence in Niamey with military trainers, Germany was the last European and US partner in the Sahel region's fight against terrorism prior to its base closure.
- The German military's defense ministry revealed plans to close its last base in West Africa, located in Niamey, which was crucial for the UN mission Minusma in Mali.
- The failure of negotiations with the military regime in Niger led to the decision to relocate German soldiers stationed at the base back to Germany by August 31st.
- The USA, another partner in the region, is also scheduled to leave its base in Niamey before vacating its drone base in Agadez by September 15th, citing Niamey's displeasure with Washington's attitude.
- With the scheduled closure of the German military base in Niamey, the strategic importance of the region for potential evacuation operations and emergency situations might be impacted.
- In accordance with the German Defense Ministry's briefing to the officers of the Bundestag, the base in Niamey, which previously employed around 100 German soldiers and civilians, had been a hub for the UN mission Minusma in the stabilization of neighboring Mali.
- German and US partners in the Sahel region, including Mali and Burkina Faso, have experienced internal conflicts and coups, leading to changes in political leadership and competitive international dynamics.
- Women in the Sahel zone have been affected by conflicts in the region, adding to the already-concerned global community and tackling crucial humanitarian issues.
- As European and US partners leave Niger, Russia has established a presence in Niamey with military trainers, signaling new strategic alliances in the region.
- The Bundestag, Germany's federal parliament, received updates about the country's military involvement in the Sahel region, including plans for the withdrawal from Niamey and the continuation of development-oriented programs in non-lethal areas.
