US delivers military equipment worth $2.3 million to Niger

As Niger’s fight against Islamist terrorism intensifies, the US has delivered military equipment worth $2.3 million to Niamey, according to RFI and agencies on May 30th.

Nigerien forces received the equipment, including uniforms, protective gear and medical supplies, on May 26th; the US Embassy in Niamey confirmed that nine containers of equipment were delivered on May 29th.

The US Embassy indicated that the delivery is part of renewed Nigerien ties to “fight terrorism, combat criminal networks and strengthen border security.”

Since seizing power in 2023, Niger’s junta has struggled to contain growing jihadist violence from groups affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda, which have become increasingly entrenched in the border region between Niger, Nigeria and Benin.

Jihadist militants are also active in the southwestern Tillabéri region, which borders Burkina Faso and Mali.

In January, Niamey’s International Airport was attacked by IS; the airport is a strategic hub that contains military bases, the headquarters of the Niger-Burkina Faso-Mali Joint Force and a uranium stockpile.

Despite IS claiming responsibility for the attack, Niger’s junta implicated, without evidence, France, the Ivory Coast and Benin in funding terrorism to destabilise the Sahel.

Niger has become increasingly isolated since the 2023 coup, which saw the former French colony reject Western ties in favour of strategic and security partnerships with Russia.

Rising anti-Western sentiment led Germany’s embassy to withdraw its staff from Niamey amid fears that jihadist groups would target Western nationals with kidnappings for ransom.

To counter Islamist violence, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali have rejected Western ties and are founding members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a cooperation pact designed to counter terrorism through shared military and intelligence resources.

Data from the Global Terrorism Index indicated that the Sahel region accounted for nearly half of all terrorism deaths in 2025.

Military coups across the Sahel since 2021 led countries including the US and France to withdraw military support from the region, citing a lack of trust in the current governments.

The US suspended visa services in Niger in 2025; Niger expelled around 1,000 US troops from the country in 2024, significantly reducing US influence in West Africa.

Maghrebi contacted the US State Department for comment on the delivery of military equipment to Niger, but has not received a response at the time of publication.

RFI and agencies, Maghrebi.org