The U.S. military announced on Monday that it has completed its withdrawal from Niger, Reuters reported.
In April, Niger’s junta ordered the U.S. to withdraw its nearly 1,000 military personnel from the country following a coup last year in the West African nation. The U.S. was given until September 15 to remove its troops from Niger’s territory.
As of last year, the nearly 1,000 U.S. troops stationed in Niger operated from two bases, including Air Base 201 near Agadez in central Niger, which served as a drone base.
Since the exit order, the U.S. withdrawal from Niger has been executed in phases. U.S. forces and assets first pulled out from Air Base 101 in Niamey on July 7, followed by Air Base 201 in Agadez on August 5.
On Monday, the U.S. military announced that the U.S. Africa Command Coordination Element, which included a two-star general and staff, had also left Niger. The entire withdrawal was completed by the September 15 deadline.
U.S. Military says:
“Over the past decade, U.S. troops have trained Niger’s forces and supported partner-led counterterrorism missions against Islamic State and al Qaeda in the region,” it said in a statement.
“The U.S. Department of Defense and the Nigerien Ministry of National Defense recognize the sacrifices made by both nations’ forces.”
Since 2018, the base has been instrumental in targeting Islamic State militants and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen, an al Qaeda affiliate, in the Sahel region.
The U.S. stated that it had warned Niger about strengthening ties with Russia and Iran before the termination of their military accord.
The U.S. is exploring options to maintain a presence in West Africa after Niger’s decision to expel the U.S. military in favour of a partnership with Russia.
In April, Russia sent military trainers to Niger to train Nigerien soldiers and establish an air defence system in the country.
