Niger: U.S. Troops Complete Withdrawal From Key Drone Base

The United States military has completed its withdrawal from air base 201 in Niger, officials announced on Monday. This follows an order from Niger’s junta asking the nearly 1,000 U.S. military personnel to leave the country.

Air base 201, a drone base situated near Agadez in central Niger and built for $100 million, was crucial in gathering intelligence on Islamist militant groups before the coup last year.

In a joint statement, Niger’s defence ministry and the U.S. military confirmed the withdrawal of personnel and equipment from the base, adding that further coordination will continue to ensure the pullout is fully completed.

The effective cooperation and communication between the U.S. and Nigerien armed forces ensured that this turnover was finished ahead of schedule and without complications, the statement read.

The junta has set a deadline of September 15 for the complete removal of U.S. troops. U.S. forces had already left Air Base 101 last month.

Niger’s demand for the U.S. troop withdrawal followed a March meeting in Niamey, where senior U.S. officials expressed concerns over the expected arrival of Russian forces and reports of Iran seeking raw materials, including uranium, in Niger.

Russia eventually sent military trainers to Niger in April.

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