Sahel: US military resumes surveillance flights over Niger

Posted On 15 September 2023

Number of times this article was read : 1263

The United States has resumed surveillance flights over Niger that were halted in the wake of the military takeover there but other activities remain paused, a spokeswoman said Thursday.  “We can confirm that US forces in Niger commenced ISR flights to monitor for threats for purposes of force protection,” the US Africa Command spokeswoman said, referring to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

“We have secured approvals from appropriate authorities,” she said, noting that “the US always reserves the right to conduct operations to protect our forces and personnel, if required.”

While the flights have resumed, other activities with Nigerien forces such as security assistance training and counterterrorism cooperation — key parts of US efforts to help the Sahel region fight jihadist groups — have not, the spokeswoman added.  Washington has some 1,100 military personnel in the country, but the Defense Department says they have largely remained on bases since the military takeover.

Niger‘s President Mohamed Bazoum was toppled on July 26 by members of his guard and was detained along with his family. The West African bloc ECOWAS has taken a hard line on Niger following a cascade of coups in the region, threatening to use force to restore civilian rule.  The Pentagon said last week that it was repositioning forces from a base in the capital Niamey to one in the Agadez area, describing the move as a precautionary measure.

AFP
Other Articles in this Week's Issue<< Niger cancels 1,000 diplomatic passports from ousted regimeMorocco: How is King Mohammed VI Managing the Earthquake Crisis? >>
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The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.

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