The United States (US) has started pulling its troops out of Niger, with the initial aircraft departing, according to a joint statement from the defense ministries of both nations released on Saturday.
The statement detailed that the withdrawal process, managed by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Nigerien Ministry of National Defense, has moved from initial preparations to active redeployment.
This significant transition began with the departure of a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III from Air Base 101 in Niamey on June 7, 2024.
Additionally, some U.S. forces have already returned to their home stations after completing their missions in Niger.
A small team of U.S. military personnel has also arrived in Niger to assist with the withdrawal from Air Bases 101 and 201, the statement added.
The U.S. and Niger have agreed to finalize the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country by September 15. Approximately 1,100 U.S. personnel are currently stationed in Niger.
The military pullout began in March after a spokesperson for the Nigerien military announced that the country’s transitional government, which assumed power in July 2023, had terminated the military agreement with the U.S. immediately, citing the interests of the Nigerien people.
The withdrawal of U.S. forces from Niger, at the request of the country’s military rulers in the West African state, is expected to conclude by September 15 at the latest.
This decision comes after several days of discussions between a delegation from the U.S. Department of Defense and their Nigerien counterparts in Niamey earlier in May.
