Jihadist and nuclear threat as African country tells US to leave amid Russian and Iranian gains

The Biden administration is in urgent talks with Niger following the country's decision to end a military agreement that allows the U.S. to house an anti-terror drone base in the restive African nation.

Paul Tilsley is a veteran correspondent who has reported on African affairs for more than three decades from Johannesburg, South Africa. He can be followed on Twitter @paultilsley

Already, the Reaper drones based at Airport 201 have not been flying missions targeting both Islamic State and al Qaeda terrorists in the region since the government of Niger was overthrown by a military coup last July. 

Analysts are concerned that should the U.S. pull out of Niger, this could permit jihadist forces to surge through West Africa and lead to the further expansion of Russian influence in Africa.