In a joint statement by the U.S. Department of Defense and Niger’s Ministry of Defense, it was announced that the United States has formally handed over its last military base in Niger. This military base, Airbase 201 located in Agadez, was a critical hub for American counterterrorism operations in the country. The handover follows the recent withdrawal of U.S. troops from another base, Airbase 101 in Niamey, Niger’s capital.
The U.S. troops in Niger have a deadline until Sept. 15 to completely depart from the Sahel country as per an agreement with Nigerien authorities. Earlier in March, the ruling junta in Niger terminated the agreement allowing U.S. troops to operate in the region. Subsequently, a joint statement from officials of both countries confirmed the planned withdrawal of U.S. troops by mid-September.
The decision by Niger to expel American troops has significant implications, particularly since Niger was a valuable partner in the fight against jihadi insurgencies in the region. Countries like the U.S. and France, along with other European nations, had a considerable military presence in Niger, investing substantial amounts in military aid and training programs.
Following a coup in Niger last year, which led to the ousting of American troops, the U.S. military is now compelled to relinquish an essential base that was central to their counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel region. In this turbulent region south of the Sahara desert, various groups affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State, such as Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), are known to operate across countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, with aims to extend their influence into Benin and Togo.
