The withdrawal of 1,000 U.S. military personnel in Niger is underway, marking the end of the Pentagon’s counterterrorism partnership in the Sahel region of Africa. The U.S. and Nigerien governments have agreed that all American troops will leave the West African country by Sept. 15.
A joint statement by the two countries’ militaries outlined the terms of the pullout, which was announced by the Biden administration last month. Senior Pentagon official Christopher P. Maier and top U.S. officer Lt. Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson met with representatives of Niger’s military in Niamey to coordinate the orderly and safe withdrawal of U.S. forces.
The withdrawal process will be completed by mid-September 2024, with about 100 American personnel with pressing needs or obsolete jobs already having left on commercial flights. The U.S. forces will take all lethal or hazardous weapons and equipment with them, leaving behind items like housing and generators for the Nigeriens to use.
The decision to withdraw comes after deteriorating relations between the U.S. and Niger following a military coup last July. Niger’s military accused American officials of interfering in the country’s affairs, leading to the end of their military cooperation deal with the United States.
In a shift towards Russia, Niger recently welcomed about 100 Russian instructors and an air-defense system, signaling a trend of Sahel countries breaking ties with Western nations. The loss of U.S. bases in Niger will impact counterterrorism efforts in the region, with discussions underway with other West African nations for potential future partnerships.
While the Pentagon may consider resuming training or security assistance in the future, the terms of any new relationship with Niger remain uncertain. It is also unclear what access the U.S. will have to the base in Agadez and whether Russian advisers or air forces may move in if relations with the Kremlin deepen.
The joint statement did not mention the fate of the bases, leaving questions about the future security landscape in the Sahel region.
