The German air base in Niamey, Niger, will no longer be operational as of August 31. The federal government has no intention of extending the German presence.
(DW) The air base operated by the Bundeswehr in Niamey will close on August 31, 2024. The military agreement signed between the two countries authorizes the German military presence until that date.
However, according to information gathered on Saturday (06.07) by DW, the German government has no intention of signing a new agreement to extend the presence of the German army.
The German Bundeswehr is planning an orderly withdrawal of the forty or so German soldiers stationed in Niger.
The construction of the air base cost Germany around 120 million euros, reports German magazine Der Spiegel. The base has been regularly praised for the value and sophistication of its equipment.
No agreement
The German press reported that the decision was the result of failed negotiations between Niger and Germany to keep the air base operational.
The Nigerien side is said to have made any extension conditional on demands considered unacceptable by Berlin.
The ruling military would like to conclude an agreement without any mention of security guarantees for the troops stationed at Niamey airport, or the guarantee of uncomplicated authorization for aircraft to take off and land.
Niamey also demanded an “equal partnership” with the German army in the training of Nigerien soldiers and even the supply of arms to the Nigerien army.
Given the proximity of the initial withdrawal deadline, there was no longer any room for maneuver for possible negotiations.
ESA summit in Niamey
The announcement of the imminent departure of the German army from Niger came on Saturday (06.07), when Niger hosted a summit of the Sahel Alliance States (SEA).
The organization recently created by the three countries under military rule aims to form a bloc against the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which is hostile to coups d’état in the West African region.
Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have decided to leave ECOWAS, which is accused of overstepping the limits of its prerogatives and missions by imposing sanctions following the overthrow of civilian rulers in these countries. The ESA countries are betting on military cooperation with Russia.