The United States of America has agreed to withdraw its troops from Niger by September 15.
This decision came after Niger’s junta demanded the removal of nearly 1,000 U.S. military personnel last month.
The U.S. and Niger’s defence ministries reached this agreement after a five-day meeting. The deal will ensure the protection of U.S. troops during the withdrawal and set up procedures to facilitate the entry and exit of American personnel during the period.
“The Niger Ministry of Defence and the U.S. Department of Defence recall the common sacrifices of the Nigerien and American forces in the fight against terrorism and welcome the mutual efforts made in building up the Nigerien armed forces,” the joint statement said.
The statement further mentioned that the withdrawal will not affect ongoing relations in terms of development between the U.S. and Niger.
“Also, Niger and the United States are committed to an ongoing diplomatic dialogue to define the future of their bilateral relations,” the statement added.
Niger’s request to remove U.S. troops followed a meeting in March in Niamey, where senior U.S. officials expressed concerns about potential Russian forces arriving and reports of Iran seeking raw materials like uranium in Niger.
Russian military personnel have since entered an air base in Niger that hosts U.S. troops.
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