The German Defence Ministry announced the suspension of all operations at its base in Niger by the end of the Summer.
Bundeswehr troops stationed at the base will leave the base by 31 August, and German military co-operation with Niger is set to cease due to the failure of negotiations with the Sahel country’s ruling junta.
The failure of the German-Niger talks marks Niamey’s latest diplomatic departure from the West since a coup in July 2023 ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and brought the current military leadership to power. Niger had previously turned its back on the United States and former colonial ruler France.
On the contrary, Niger has turned towards Russia and Iran. Thus, Russian troops are operating from the same base as US troops, making every effort to expand their influence in the region. Earlier in June, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Burkina Faso and announced the increase of Russian military personnel in the region.
At the end of May, Berlin and Niamey reached a temporary agreement allowing the Bundeswehr to continue operating the airbase in the capital until the end of August. However, negotiations to extend this agreement broke down, in part because base personnel no longer received immunity from prosecution.
There were only 38 Bundeswehr personnel at the base, as well as 33 employees of German and foreign companies who used the German base for operations to evacuate German citizens to Africa.
