US Troops To Leave Niger by Mid-September
The US and Niger have agreed that American troops will leave the country “no later” than September 15, they announced in a joint statement on Sunday.
They said the two countries had “reached a disengagement agreement to effect the withdrawal of U.S. forces, which has already begun.”
The US has relied on Niger as its primary base for monitoring regional jihadist activity.
The military junta, which seized power last year, has already ordered French troops to leave, while moving closer to Russia.
The statement commended the “joint sacrifices of Nigerien and U.S. forces in the fight against terrorism,” adding that the withdrawal would not affect the continuation of US-Niger relations.
“The United States and Niger are committed to ongoing diplomatic dialogue to define the future of their bilateral relations,” it read.
The deal was reached after marathon talks between the two countries in Niamey.
In March, Niger announced the end of its military agreement with the US. Military spokesperson Col. Amadou Abdramane accused the US of raising objections about the allies that Niger had chosen.
Col. Abdramane condemned the US for its “condescending attitude” and “threat of reprisals.”
Tensions spiked between the US and Niger after the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, was overthrown last year.
Niger is in Africa’s Sahel region, considered the new global epicentre of the Islamic State group.
American forces have used two military bases in Niger to monitor Islamist militant groups in the Sahel.
The US built a $100 million (£80 million) military base there six years ago in the central city of Agadez, 750km (460 miles) north-east of Niamey.
It has played a key role in the US strategy to combat jihadists in West Africa.
The US has more than 1,000 troops stationed at the base.
It is the second Western power to withdraw from Niger.
Last year, Niger expelled former colonial power France’s troops, who had also been deployed to fight jihadists.
As Niger has distanced itself from the West, it has drawn closer to Russia.
Last month, Russian military instructors arrived in Niger as part of a new agreement with its military leaders.
