"Niger's Military Takeover Designated as Coup d'Etat, France's Troop Withdrawal Raises Questions"

The US State Department is preparing to officially designate the military takeover in Niger as a coup d'etat, potentially impacting the US' ability to work with Niger as a counter-terrorism partner. The designation could lead to the suspension of certain forms of assistance to Niger, although the US embassy can continue to operate and US forces can legally remain in the country. The Pentagon is assessing the impact on its approximately 1,000 forces stationed in Niger, with some likely staying in a limited intelligence gathering role. The US has been reluctant to label the takeover as a coup, but the legal designation would require restrictions on foreign aid. The US military mission in Niger has been a key reason for the delay in making the designation.