NIAMEY: The United States has said it will analyze its next move on the crisis hit Niger after France announced to withdraw its troops as demanded by the military coup leaders in the country, Western media reported on Monday.
France has about 1,500 soldiers in Niger as part of an anti-militant force in Africa’s Sahel region while the United States has 1,100 military personnel.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters in Nairobi that though the US wants to give a chance to diplomacy it will also continue to analyze any future steps that would prioritize American diplomatic and security goals.
US wants a diplomatic solution to Niger crisis
He added Washington had not made any change to its force positions and that the country really wants to see a diplomatic solution and a peaceful end to the crisis in Niger.
On Sunday French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would immediately withdraw its envoy and troops from Niger by year’s end.
The decision came two months after on July 26 the military leaders in Niger ousted pro-Paris President Mohamed Bazoum in a coup.
Macron added that military cooperation with Niger was over and French troops would withdraw by the end of the year.
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The Pentagon on September 7 had announced that some US soldiers were being shifted from a base in the capital Niamey to an air base to the north in the Agadez region.
Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokesperson said the US will do an assessment of troops withdrawal but currently it is focusing on transferring troops to another base in the coup-hit country.
The United States on September 18 said that it was resuming surveillance flights over Niger which had been stopped halted by the coup.
