The U.S. military has completed its withdrawal from Niger, marking the end of a long-standing counterterrorism partnership with the West African nation. The final phase of the withdrawal concluded on Sunday, as announced by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) in a statement. Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh confirmed on Monday that a small contingent of U.S. military personnel would remain in Niger to guard the U.S. Embassy, but the bulk of the nearly 1,000 troops previously stationed there have now left.
The U.S. presence in Niger had been critical to its broader counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel, where jihadist groups such as Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) continue to pose a significant threat. U.S. forces had been stationed at two key military bases—Air Base 101 in Niamey and Air Base 201 in Agadez—until their handover to local authorities in July and August 2024, respectively.
The U.S. withdrawal follows months of mounting tensions between Niger’s ruling military junta and Washington. After seizing power in a coup in 2023, Niger’s junta nullified the longstanding military agreement that had allowed U.S. personnel to operate in the country.Â
Earlier this year, Niger’s leadership demanded the full withdrawal of U.S. forces, a request that was initially met with negotiations but ultimately complied with by Washington. “This process began on May 19 following the mutual establishment of withdrawal conditions,” AFRICOM said in its release, adding that the withdrawal had been completed by the pre-established deadline of September 15, 2024.
Before the coup, Niger had been viewed as one of the last reliable partners for the U.S. and its allies in the volatile Sahel region. Jihadist groups such as JNIM, affiliated with al-Qaeda, and ISGS have killed thousands and displaced millions across Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. U.S. forces had provided extensive training and logistical support to Nigerien forces, assisting in counterterrorism operations aimed at stemming the spread of extremism in the region.
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