The U.S. military has completed its withdrawal from Air Base 201 in Agadez and Air Base 101 in Niamey, Niger, handing over the last military bases to local authorities as per an agreement with Niger's ruling junta.
Approximately 400 troops were withdrawn from Niamey and 600 from Agadez. A small number will remain at the U.S. embassy for administrative issues.
The withdrawal process was completed ahead of schedule, with effective cooperation and communication between the U.S. and Nigerien armed forces.
The troop withdrawal is seen as a setback for Washington's counterterrorism efforts in the volatile Sahel region, where several countries have fallen to military juntas in recent years.
The Agadez Air Base 201 provided intelligence on Islamic militant groups before the coup. Over the past decade, U.S. troops trained Niger's forces and supported counterterrorism missions against Islamic State and al Qaeda in the region.
Despite U.S. support, terrorist activities and fatalities have increased in Niger. The focus on military operations was seen as taking the place of increased involvement in local economy, political patronage, and human rights concerns.
The withdrawal was initiated in March after Niger's transitional government ended the military agreement with the U.S., granting the U.S. until September 15 to withdraw troops as the regime distances itself from Western powers.
Niger's decision to request the U.S. withdrawal came after a meeting where U.S. officials raised concerns about expected Russian forces and reports of Iran seeking uranium in the country. In April, Russia sent military instructors to Niger.
Apart from the U.S., Niger has also begun terminating military agreements with France, Germany, and the EU civil mission aimed at supporting security forces.
Sources: The Hill, Istoé, Washington Examiner, TASS, The Guardian, The Conversation, Le Figaro, Koaci, CTV News, AllAfrica, L'AntiDiplomatico, KION546, G4Media, MarketScreener , Niger Delta Connect, WTOP.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
