FIRST ON FOX: U.S. forces engaged in counter-terrorism efforts in Niger and other parts of the Sahel region of West Africa are reportedly operating without crucial intelligence, a situation attributed to a policy initiative from the Biden administration, according to a former senior State Department official who spoke to Fox News Digital.
An anonymous U.S. military source, speaking exclusively with Fox News Digital, stated that the Pentagon now faces a “black hole” when attempting to respond to significant events, like the kidnapping of an American citizen on October 21.
Until September of the previous year, the United States maintained two airbases in Niger, from which drones equipped with advanced cameras conducted surveillance, penetrating dense forests to track terrorist organizations. These drones were believed to have played a role in locating another American resident of Niger abducted in 2020 during the Trump administration, a situation that led to a successful rescue operation by SEAL Team Six dispatched by Washington.
However, the military source indicated that while Niger initially wished for the U.S. to retain its bases, in March of the prior year, the nation expressed dissatisfaction with the “condescending attitude” of a U.S. delegation sent by the Biden administration to Niger, subsequently ordering the departure of all American base personnel.
On March 16, following the encounter, Nigerien government spokesperson Amadou Adramane appeared on national television, criticizing the American officials for failing to adhere to diplomatic protocol. He stated, “Niger regrets the intention of the American delegation to deny the sovereign Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and types of partnerships.”
Adramane further asserted, “Also, the government of Niger forcefully denounces the condescending attitude accompanied by the threat of retaliation from the head of the American delegation towards the Nigerien government and people.”
Mary “Molly” Phee, then the assistant secretary of state for the African Affairs Bureau, led the U.S. delegation in its discussions with Niger’s military leaders. Multiple sources indicated that Phee, in her role as head of the delegation, insisted that Niger cease its engagements with Russia and Iran, threatening sanctions otherwise.
An insider informed Fox News Digital that Phee “flame sprayed” Niger’s leaders during the meeting, noting that this “rant led us to being kicked out.” Fox News Digital also conveyed that the Nigerien leaders were particularly offended by her comments.
On Saturday, Phee, who has since retired, commented to Fox News Digital, stating, “It’s a classic case of blame the messenger if you don’t like the message.”
Phee asserted that she was adhering to Biden administration policy, explaining, “I’m a professional diplomat with more than 30 years of experience, and I was leading an interagency delegation dispatched to share a proposal developed and approved by the White House. The Nigerien junta rejected our offer and employed a misogynistic trope to deflect legitimate concerns about their conduct.”
According to the military source, within months of the Phee delegation’s meeting with Nigerien officials, all U.S. personnel and their drones had departed Niger, leaving Washington, the military source claimed, with “no eyes in the sky.”
This development prompted Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, then commander of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), to inform military chiefs at an African Chiefs of Defense Conference in May that, “Since we’ve left Niger in September of last year, we’re observing a rise in attacks by violent extremist organizations, not only in Niger but across the Sahel to include Nigeria as well and emanating in – going into Burkina Faso and Mali.”
General Langley further noted that terrorist groups have enhanced both their capabilities and the “proliferation of weapons,” concluding that “unfortunately with our withdrawal from the region, we have lost our ability to monitor these terrorist groups closely.”
The U.S. military source revealed to Fox News Digital that, “AFRICOM is severely resource constrained with only one base in Djibouti, and some smaller forces in Somalia and Kenya. The Biden administration kept cutting our budget… we are one of the largest land masses with all the problems — Russia, China, drugs and terrorism — but make up less than 1% of the Department of War’s budget.”
“Since the previous administration lost us access to Niger, the Americans and Western powers are completely blind and unable to quickly react to anything.”
The source conceded that deploying SEAL Team Six for the rescue of the recently abducted American victim was a possibility. However, he emphasized that the rescue team’s primary requirement would be locating the victim. He stated, “If we had stayed, right now… Niger would be much safer, and we would have eyes in the sky to help find the American missionary… now we have nothing in the way of resources.”
The source informed us that a rescue operation is “difficult to impossible… first we have to find the guy.”
Analysts concurred that, especially given the harsh conditions prevalent in the Sahel, satellites – Washington’s alternative “eyes” – face significant challenges in effectively tracking the victim.
The State Department has issued its most severe travel advisory, cautioning, “Do not travel to Niger for any reason due to crime, unrest, terrorism, health, and kidnapping.”
Fox News Digital made multiple attempts to contact AFRICOM, the Department of War, and the State Department, but no response was received by the time of publication.