US Troops to Completely Exit from Niger by September 15

May 21, 2024

(3 Minutes Read)

The deal was brokered between the two parties after a long discussion in the capital city of Niger-Niamey.

The US and Niger have agreed that American troops will leave the country on or before 15^th September this year. This disengagement arrangement, which was being discussed for quite some time was finally agreed upon, said in a joint statement issued by both parties recently on last Sunday. The withdrawal of the US troops from Niger territory has already started. The deal was brokered between the two parties after a long discussion in the capital city of Niger-Niamey.

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 joint statement referred to the joint sacrifices of Niger’s and U.S. forces in the fight against terrorism. It also highlighted that the withdrawal would not affect the continuation of US-Niger diplomatic relations.

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 epicenter 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 USD 100m (£80m) 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.

The US 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. Niger has also broken away from local democracies and sought stronger regional alliances with fellow junta-led nations Burkina Faso and Mali. The trio have quit Ecowas – the West African regional body that opposed their military takeovers. They have also quit the French-backed G5 Sahel force, saying it was ineffectual and undermined African sovereignty, and launched their defence pact called the Alliance of Sahel States.