U.S. troops have finished their withdrawal from the base in Niamey, Niger’s capital, and are set to fully depart from Agadez in the north by a September 15 deadline, as announced by officials from both countries on Sunday.
Following their coup in July 2023, Niger’s military commanders terminated a military cooperation agreement with the United States in March.
As part of anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel countries of West Africa, the United States maintained some 650 soldiers in Niger, including a sizable drone base close to Agadez.
“The defense ministry of Niger and the U.S. Defense Department jointly declared the completion of the withdrawal of American forces and equipment from Niamey’s base 101,” both countries affirmed in a statement.
The final flight transporting U.S. troops was scheduled to depart from Niamey late Sunday.
The U.S. had approximately 950 troops present, with 766 soldiers having departed Niger since the military mandated their exit, according to AFP, citing a ceremony attended by Niger’s army chief of staff Maman Sani Kiaou and U.S. General Kenneth Ekman.
“The American forces will now shift their attention to vacating airbase 201 in Agadez,” the statement noted, affirming that the withdrawal would adhere to the scheduled completion by September 15.
Niger had previously instructed the withdrawal of French troops, its former colonial ruler and long-standing security partner, and has bolstered relations with Russia, which has supplied instructors and equipment.
Germany’s defense ministry announced on Saturday that it would cease operations at its airbase in Niger by August 31 after negotiations with military authorities faltered.
Similar changes have occurred in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, where military regimes are in power and confront violence from jihadist groups.