Sema Fonkem 18 Feb 2026

Approximately 100 soldiers from the United States of America have arrived in Nigeria with equipment to assist in fighting terrorism in the north-eastern region. 

The team that landed at Bauchi airfield will not be engaging in ground combat and will only assist Nigeria’s military with intelligence and technical operations.

This deployment is a significant milestone in strengthening US-Nigeria military cooperation after the December 25, 2025 airstrikes carried out by American army. 

Panic in Niger

While the arrival of US troops has been applauded by many Nigerians, the sentiment is not the same in neighbouring Niger which had a fallout with USA in 2023 when General Abdourahamane Tiani took over power. 

When Tiani came to power, his regime accused the US of not allowing Niger the freedom to choose its business partners and the kind of millitary cooperation required to fight terrorists. The Nigrienne government strongly felt the United States undermined their partnership. 

“The government of Niger, taking into account the aspirations and interests of its people, decides with full responsibility to denounce with immediate effect the agreement relating to the status of military personnel of the United States and civilian employees of the American Department of Defense in the territory of the Republic of Niger,” Niger military spokesman Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane said in a statement on national television.

The deterioration of the US-Nigerienne friendship saw America withdraw 1100 of its troops stationed in Niger.

Why the panic in Niger?

According to some members within Niger’s army, they believe that US presence in Nigeria which shares a ,1497-kilometres border with Niger, approximately 830km driving distance from Bauchi to Niamey could include an undercover mission for American intelligence to spy on SAHEL region at large.

US government has a high interest in limiting China and Russia’s activities in SAHEL region and to secure mineral resources such as uranium and lithium. To achieve this goal, the US must maintain high surveillance capabilities and so far, their key access point is north-eastern Nigeria.

Since 2007, Nigeria has recorded about 11,000 deaths and the displacement of millions caused by terrorist activities and conflicts in the north-eastern region. If the US joint military cooperation successfully deters terrorists, it is possible that SAHEL becomes their permanent hideout and to avoid a reoccurrence, America may see need to attack from within Niger, Mali, Chad and Burkina Faso.

To re-establish US footprint in SAHEL region may be a long but possible process.