Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine in Niger's capital, Niamey, in December. (Balima Boureima/Anadolu/Getty Images)

A crucial military relationship between the 🇺🇸 United States and its closest West African ally, 🇳🇪 Niger, ruptured this spring after a visiting U.S. official made threats during last-ditch negotiations over whether American troops based there would be allowed to remain, ultimately leading to US troops expulsion, according to the country’s prime minister.

In an exclusive interview, Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine put the blame for the breakdown squarely on the United States, accusing American officials of trying to dictate which countries Niger could partner with and failing to justify the U.S. troop presence, now scheduled to end in the coming months.

Niger has been central to efforts to contain a growing Islamist insurgency in West Africa.

The rift between the former allies has created an opportunity for Russia, which has moved quickly to deepen its relationship with Niger, dispatching troops to the capital, Niamey, last month to train the Nigerien military and supplying a new air defense system. Russian and U.S. troops now occupy opposite ends of an air base.

“The Americans stayed on our soil, doing nothing while the terrorists killed people and burned towns,” he told The Post. “It is not a sign of friendship to come on our soil but let the terrorists attack us.

We have seen what the United States will do to defend its allies, because we have seen Ukraine and Israel.”

Zeine also took offense at what he said was U.S. officials demanding that Niger not engage closely with Iran and Russia, two of Washington’s adversaries.

He claimed there was an ultimatum to have security with the U.S. or be close to Tehran and Moscow, while pursuing an Iranian deal for uranium would result in American sanctions. Zeine said Niger has not signed a deal for uranium.

“First, you have come here to threaten us in our country. That is unacceptable,” he told The Post. “And you have come here to tell us with whom we can have relationships, which is also unacceptable. And you have done it all with a condescending tone and a lack of respect.”

Niger fell to a military coup last year, which saw the placement of Zeine as prime minister after the ouster of the country’s former president, Mohamed Bazoum.

Since then, the nation has grown more hostile to western forces closer to U.S. adversaries, welcoming Russian military trainers this year and Iran’s president in a state visit.

Niger ordered France to withdraw troops before negotiating with the U.S. on a new agreement that ultimately culminated in the Pentagon announcing it would eventually withdraw all its forces last month after more than a decade in the country.

The coming withdrawal is another setback for the U.S. in the African Sahel region, which has experienced multiple coups in the past few years that have ultimately benefitted Russia.

Washington Post || The Hill

Use china as middle man

U.S should go and rest

Lolzz, theses bastards actually think they run the world and can just order full countries around. Mehn, make una just dey thank una stars say person like me no come this life as Russian or Chinese President ohhh, make una dey thank una stars ohhh, hmmm. Person like me victory does not only mean you die and i live ohhh, you die and i die is still a victory for me ohhh, hmmm. I'm ready to go down with you just to bring you down ohhh, hmmm.

Good for you guys.

No one can dictate to the US, hence the US should not be dictating to any country.

Bully

🤣🤣🤣🤣

The US is pained!

How can you dictate to a sovereign country!

Russia is on the ground in Niger! The US cannot try shiit

Use is Useless..

Leave Niger alone..

Na your business?

The US has lost a lot of influence and now resorting to empty threats. They threatened Israel not to enter terrorists stronghold of Rafah and Israel entered, nothing happened. Everyone knows the US is not the same country it used to be.

Russia should not complicate issues

Abegi

Us dey mad

How US take help Niger economy?

Rubbish people

I love Niger

Ogun kiii unna fada US.

What right did you have to dictate for a sovereign nation who to transact business with?

Unna dey mad.

He looks like Yar'Adua abi na hunger dey my eyes so?

Unfortunately, you can’t fight someone stronger than you. There are ways to handle such situation instead of acting base on your emotion.

Even Russia and Iran will be praying for USA and Western nations to start chaos in Niger so they will have access to mine your minerals in disguise as helping your country. None of these nations benefit from peace. They all benefit from chaos and wars.

Every colonial entity in Africa should be dismantled.

Biafra is OURS

Ehen?
.
Wetin dey really occur for that Niger?

USA can't be controlling every countries.

YesDaddyTill203:
Good for you guys.

No one can dictate to the US, hence the US should not be dictating to any country.

They think it’s Nigeria and Ghana that they dictate to.

They're always pokenosing

Hmmm

As who ?

AllenSpencer:
🤣🤣🤣🤣

The US is pained!

How can you dictate to a sovereign country!

Russia is on the ground in Niger! The US cannot try shiit

lol

You can sanction all you want the negros don't need you anymore, na by force to be your friend

You will be dictating to people how to run their country,what sort of foolishness is that?

Niger. Don't fold