The US military has completed its withdrawal from its final base in Niger, following a directive from the country’s coup leaders.
The Pentagon, in conjunction with Niger’s defense ministry, confirmed the complete withdrawal from Air Base 201 in Agadez. This move ends over a decade of US military presence aimed at countering jihadist insurgencies in the region.
Approximately 200 US soldiers were stationed at the Agadez drone base, a critical site for counterterrorism operations in the Sahel region, where groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS operate. The withdrawal follows Niger’s ousting of American troops after a coup last year, significantly impacting US counterterrorism efforts in West Africa.
Despite the withdrawal, the US and Nigerien armed forces plan to ensure the full withdrawal of remaining assets. This development marks a significant shift in the region’s security dynamics, as Niger was one of the last stable partners for Western nations combating jihadist threats in the Sahel.