- The conclusion of the military intervention led by the Federal Armed Forces in Niger's western region
German armed forces wrapped up their stint in Niger's west after an eight-year tenure and departed from the Niamey air transport facility. A military plane carrying the remaining 60 German soldiers touched down at the Lower Saxony airbase in Germany on Friday night. Simultaneously, a second A400M transport aircraft transported German equipment back from Niamey.
This facility on Niamey's outskirts was managed by up to 120 German forces. It acted as a logistical base for the German military's role in the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA in Mali, which concluded at the end of 2023 at the Malian military government's behest.
Previously, Niger was recognized as the last European and American ally against terrorism in the Sahel region. However, a military coup disrupted this status last year. The German Defense Ministry announced in July that operational continuation at the last German base in West Africa would no longer be possible following failed negotiations with the Nigerien de facto military authorities. Over the years, approximately 3,200 German soldiers were stationed in Niamey.
Niger inclines towards Russia
Initially, the German Defense Ministry intended to keep the facility operational post-Mali mission. The goal was to preserve potential contingencies, such as evacuation missions or emergencies, and demonstrate a military presence in the strategically significant region. However, driven by similar shifts, Niamey, along with its neighbors, has also aligned itself with Russia. Russian military personnel, officially billed as trainers, have been stationed in Niamey for several months now. Virtually all other former allies have been expelled.
To expedite the withdrawal, the German army set up a temporary air transport hub in Senegal's coastal region. Post-mission, this hub was dismantled. Currently, negotiations between Germany and Senegal are underway to preserve the hub's operations without requiring the presence of German military personnel, possibly by storing necessary materials there.
The facility on Niamey's outskirts was managed by a substantial number of German forces, including up to 120 women. Despite the German Defense Ministry's initial plans to keep the facility operational, many former allies, including Germany, have been expelled from Niamey due to its alignment with Russia.
