By Chen Hanghui and Guan Ying

陈航辉、关瀛

People in Niger hold demonstrations demanding withdrawal of US troops. 尼日尔民众举行示威活动，要求美国撤军。

In March of this year, the Nigerien transitional government announced the termination of its military cooperation agreement with the US and requested the withdrawal of US troops stationed in Niger. Currently, the withdrawal process has begun, and according to the agreement reached between the US Department of Defense and the Nigerien Ministry of Defense, the withdrawal has to be completed by September 15, 2024.

今年3月，尼日尔过渡政府宣布撤销与美国的军事合作协议，并要求美国撤走在尼日尔驻军。目前，美军撤离工作已开始，根据美国国防部与尼日尔国防部达成的撤军协议，撤军工作最迟于今年9月15日结束。

Coincidentally, the Chadian military demanded the withdrawal of US troops in early April, citing a lack of legitimacy for their presence. As more African countries choose to part ways with the US, the US military may be forced to fully withdraw from the Sahel region, fundamentally weakening its military presence there. Some high-ranking US military officials admitted that these withdrawals will significantly impact the overall US military layout in Africa.

无独有偶，今年4月初，乍得军方以美方驻军缺乏正当性为由，要求美军撤离。随着这些非洲国家纷纷选择分道扬镳，美军或将被迫全面撤出萨赫勒地区，这将从根本上削弱美军在萨赫勒地区的军事存在。有美军高层承认，这些撤离行动，将对美军在非洲的整体军事布局造成严重影响。

The US military presence in Niger began in 2013 and it now has two permanent military bases and four temporary operational bases, housing over one thousand troops. According to the US Department of Defense, the purpose of establishing these bases in Niger is to combat terrorism and extremist groups in the Sahel region. Although this parlance might seem to align with Niger's security interests, Niger still issued an "expulsion order". There are multiple underlying factors behind this.

美国在尼日尔驻军始于2013年，在该国有2个永久军事基地和4个临时行动基地，部署了逾千名军人。根据美国国防部的说辞，美军在尼日尔开设军事基地的目的，是为了打击萨赫勒地区的恐怖主义和极端武装。虽说美军这一说辞听上去似乎符合尼日尔的安全利益，但仍然遭到尼日尔的“逐客令”。这一局面形成的背后，凸显了多重因素。

First, the ineffectiveness in combating terrorism has led to a continuous erosion of US credibility. Following the upheavals in North Africa in 2011, terrorist organizations like ISIS took the opportunity to expand in the Sahel region. In 2013, the US military entered Niger under the guise of counterterrorism. However, their presence did not improve Niger's security situation. According to a United Nations report, the Sahel region, including Niger, remains one of the most terrorism-stricken areas globally.

反恐效果不彰，导致美军信用持续破产。2011年北非局势发生动荡后，“伊斯兰国”等恐怖组织趁势在萨赫勒地区扩张蔓延。2013年，美军以反恐为名入驻尼日尔。然而，美军的到来却没有改善尼日尔的安全形势。据联合国的一份研究报告显示，目前包括尼日尔在内的萨赫勒地区，是全球恐怖主义的重灾区。

Second, increasing public awareness has prompted African nations to resist Western military presence. Many African countries believe that Western countries including the US are pursuing their narrow geopolitical interests under the pretext of counterterrorism and other reasons. Particularly since the new century, as Western countries have intensified their military deployments in Africa, concerns about "neocolonialism" and the erosion of national sovereignty have grown. Furthermore, the US' condescending attitude and hegemonic actions of its troops are also significant factors behind the request for the withdrawal of US troops.

民众日益觉醒，促使非洲国家抵制西方驻军。在很多非洲国家看来，美西方国家一直试图借助反恐等各种名义，图谋实现自己狭隘的地缘政治私利。特别是新世纪以来，随着美西方国家持续加强在非军事部署，非洲国家对“新殖民主义”的担忧日益增加, 担心国家主权遭到侵蚀。此外，美国居高临下的态度和美军的霸权行径也是导致被要求撤军的重要因素。

Third, competition between major powers provides Niger with more security options. Due to effective counterterrorism actions in Syria and other factors, Russia has become a preferred security partner for some African countries. Since 2021, countries in the Sahel region like Mali and Burkina Faso have ended their cooperation with French troops and turned to Russia. Niger is also establishing cooperative relations with Russia. Reports suggest that after issuing the "expulsion order," Russian military personnel have already moved into an airbase in Niger.

大国竞争态势 ，使尼日尔在安全上拥有更多选择。由于在叙利亚的反恐行动卓有成效等原因，因而俄罗斯成为一些非洲国家的优选安全合作伙伴。2021年以来，马里、布基纳法索等萨赫勒地区国家，纷纷宣布终止与法军合作，转而与俄罗斯建立合作关系。目前，尼日尔同样正在建立与俄合作关系。有消息称，对美军下达“逐客令”后，俄军事人员已经进驻尼日尔的一个空军基地。

Despite the US military's reluctant withdrawal from Niger, it will not completely leave Africa. From the US military's perspective, West Africa is one of the most important regions on the continent. Therefore, as early as January of this year, US Africa Command began engaging with countries like Benin, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire to discuss the possibility of establishing US bases. In March, after the Nigerien transitional government announced the termination of its military cooperation agreement with the US, the US Department of State sent diplomatic notes to several West African countries, promising to shift military assistance and forces to the coastal nations of West Africa in an attempt to pave the way for the establishment of new military bases with military aid.

尽管美军撤离尼日尔属于无奈之举，但也应认识到，美军绝不会就此离开非洲。在美军看来，西非是非洲最重要的地区之一。因此早在今年1月，美国非洲司令部就开始与贝宁、加纳、科特迪瓦等西非国家进行接触，商讨开设美军基地的可能性。3月，尼日尔过渡政府宣布废除与美军事合作协议后，美国国务院向西非多国发出照会，承诺将把军事援助和军事力量转移到西非沿海地区国家，试图用军援为开设新的军事基地铺路。

It is worth noting that the current US military layout in Africa includes various deployments, security cooperation, joint exercises and training, high-level military interactions, and other types of military exchanges. As the US shifts its strategic focus in Africa towards major power competition, its military layout in Africa will also be adjusted accordingly.

值得注意的是，当前美国对非洲军事布局包括在非军事部署、对非安全合作、联军联演联训、军方高层互动以及各类军事交流等。随着美国在非洲的战略重心转向大国影响力竞争，美国对非洲军事布局也将随之作出调整。

For the US' military deployments in Africa, the importance of political and diplomatic factors outweighs that of operational ones. Countries with regional influence, relatively stable relations with the US, and significant geopolitical locations will be prioritized.

美国在非洲军事部署，将更多考虑政治外交因素而非作战因素。那些拥有地区影响力、对美关系相对稳固、地缘位置重要的国家，会成为美军部署军力的优先考虑国家。

Although the US is constantly adjusting its military strategy in Africa, its attempts to seek hegemony and engage in expansionism remain unchanged. Given its notorious record of instigating conflicts worldwide and promoting proxy wars, these actions are bound to raise high vigilance among African nations and strong opposition from the public.

虽然美国对非洲军事布局正在不断作出调整，但其大搞霸权主义、扩张主义的图谋从来没有改变。特别是鉴于其在全球肆意“拱火”，推行代理人战争的丑陋记录，美种种动作必然会引起非洲国家的高度警惕和广大民众的强烈反对。