The German army abandons its transport air base in Niger. A “ interim agreement ” had however been concluded between Berlin and Niamey which had already imposed the withdrawal of French and American troops. The negotiations to extend the agreement between Germany and Niger did not succeed in keeping this base which was used in particular for evacuation operations.
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According to the German defense minister, his army will stop operating its air transport base by August 31, 2024. Negotiations with the military junta in Niamey have failed, he said. Military cooperation with Niger will also be abandoned. German soldiers are still training Nigerien special forces in Tillia in the northern Tahoua region.
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Berlin does not accept that the Niamey regime resulting from the coup of 26 July is moving closer to Russia and Iran, thereby distancing itself from Western countries such as France and the United States. In May 2024, however, Niger and Germany had agreed on an agreement allowing the Bundeswehr to continue to be used until the end of August the Niamey air transport base in exchange for the construction of a reference military hospital, the first in West Africa.
If the negotiations have stalled, it is because the government in Niamey has refused to allow the personnel to continue to benefit from their immunity against legal proceedings. Only 38 soldiers are present, in addition to 33 employees from German and foreign companies.
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