US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting Niger on Wednesday on the second leg of his brief tour of African nations.
He is expected to announce more US support for Niger’s fight against a jihadist insurgency that has forced millions of people from their homes in the Sahel.
The United States has been losing influence in Africa to China and Russia.
Mr Blinken is one of the many US officials who have been visiting the continent in recent months.
Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum was praised by his US counterpart last year for building democracy in a country that has witnessed numerous military coups.
