US troops pull out of Niger’s Air Base 101

2 months ago 13

The US military withdrew its personnel from Niger’s Air Base 101 near the airport in the capital Niamey on Sunday (7 July), ahead of its exit from a major drone base near the desert city of Agadez in the coming weeks.

Niger’s ruling junta in April ordered the US to withdraw its nearly 1,000 military personnel from the country following a coup last year in the West African nation.

“Thanks to effective cooperation and communication between the Nigerian and American armed forces, this operation was completed ahead of schedule and without any complications,” Niger’s defence ministry and the US Department of Defense said in a joint statement.

The focus will next shift to withdrawal from the $100 million drone base near Agadez in central Niger, which had provided crucial intelligence about jihadist-linked groups, US Air Force Major General Kenneth Ekman said on Friday.

Future of US military mission in Niger in focus after coup

Last month’s coup in Niger has raised questions over whether the United States can continue the 1,100-strong military presence in the country that officials and analysts say has been key to fighting Islamist militants in the Sahel region.

The pullout from that base, known as Air Base 201, will likely take place in August, he said.

Niger’s ruling junta has given the US until 15 September to remove troops from its territory.

In April, Russia sent military trainers to Niger.

Niger and its military-led neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso signed a confederation treaty on Saturday, signalling an ever-closer alignment between the countries in the insurgency-torn central Sahel.

They have torn up defence agreements with US, European and United Nations forces.

Russian troops enter base housing US military in Niger

Russian military personnel have entered an air base in Niger that is hosting US troops, a senior US defense official told Reuters, a move that follows a decision by Niger’s junta to expel US forces from the country.