US military says withdrawal from Niger is complete

The United States military announced Monday that it had completed its withdrawal from Niger, after coup leaders in the African country demanded that its troops depart.

The United States had more than 1,000 troops in Niger as part of anti-jihadist missions in several Sahel nations of West Africa, including a major drone base, but Niger's military leaders scrapped a military cooperation deal with Washington after seizing power in a 2023 coup.

The United States and Niger "announce that the withdrawal of US forces and assets from Niger is complete," US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said in a statement.

"The safe, orderly, and responsible withdrawal was completed without complications, by the mutually decided date of September 15, 2024," AFRICOM said, adding that American troops have "trained Niger's forces and supported partner-led counterterrorism missions" over the past decade.

Niger in recent years has been a lynchpin in US and French strategy to combat jihadists in West Africa, especially since the military seized power in Mali and Burkina Faso, becoming hostile to Western armed forces.

The July 26, 2023 coup in Niger -- which overthrew the democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum -- has seen the new regime move closer to its two neighbors and force the French and US military out of the country.

- Tilt toward Russia -

The US withdrawal from Niger kicked off in May, two months after the government said it was ending a military cooperation agreement with Washington, claiming the presence of US soldiers was now "illegal."

US troops were centered at two main bases in Niger -- one at the capital Niamey, and the other at a major drone facility at Agadez that had since 2019 enabled air surveillance missions to be carried out up to the borders of Libya.

American troops left the Niamey base in July and quit the Agadez facility early last month, leaving less than two dozen personnel at the US embassy to prepare for the completion of the withdrawal.

Despite the exit of American troops, a senior US officer told AFP in August that Washington still has "shared security objectives" with Niamey.

The next step is to listen to Niger's needs "for a future security relationship with the United States," said Major General Kenneth Ekman, who coordinated the withdrawal.

For around a decade, Niger has been grappling with bloody violence by armed groups linked to the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group and Al-Qaeda, and has also had to contend with unrest from Boko Haram.

Western countries have helped combat militants in the region, but since the 2023 coup, Niger's regime has tilted notably towards Russia -- which sent instructors and military equipment this year -- and has also tightened relations with Turkey and Iran.

The final French forces departed the country late last year, while Germany ended operations in Niger and flew the last of its troops home in late August.