THE United States has completed its troop withdrawal from Niger, according to a US official on Monday. A small contingent of military personnel remains in the country to guard the US Embassy, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh confirmed.
This withdrawal follows Niger’s military junta decision earlier this year to terminate an agreement that allowed US forces to operate within the West African nation. In a joint statement issued later, officials from both countries announced the complete withdrawal would occur by mid-September.
Transfer of last military bases
Last month, the US officially handed over its final military bases in Niger to local authorities. However, around two dozen American troops stayed behind to manage the final logistical steps of the withdrawal, according to Singh.
Niger’s expulsion of US troops, which followed a coup last year, marks a significant shift for Washington, as it had used critical bases in the country for counterterrorism operations across the Sahel. This vast region, located south of the Sahara Desert, has become a hotspot for insurgent activity.
One key militant group, Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), is active in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, and is reportedly aiming to extend its reach into neighbouring Benin and Togo.
French troops also expelled
Niger had long been one of the last dependable partners for Western nations in the fight against the rise of militant insurgencies in the Sahel. The US and France together maintained over 2,500 military personnel in the region, investing hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance and training to bolster Niger’s security.
In recent months, however, Niger’s ruling junta has distanced itself from its Western allies, opting instead to strengthen ties with Russia. In April, Russian military trainers arrived in Niger to support the country’s air defence systems, signalling a shift in Niger’s security strategy.
