DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The U.S. has officially handed over its last military base in Niger to local authorities, marking a significant development in American counterterrorism operations in the country. The handover of Airbase 201 in Agadez follows the recent withdrawal of U.S. troops from Airbase 101 in Niamey, the capital of Niger.
As per the agreement between the U.S. Department of Defense and Niger’s Ministry of Defense, American troops have until September 15 to complete their withdrawal from the Sahel country. This decision comes after Niger's ruling junta terminated the agreement allowing U.S. troops to operate within its borders earlier this year.
Niger's decision to oust American troops has raised concerns about the impact on counterterrorism efforts in the region. The country had been a key partner for Western nations in combating jihadi insurgencies, with the U.S. and France maintaining a significant military presence in the region. The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Niger is part of a broader shift in the security landscape of the Sahel region.
The move is particularly significant given the presence of groups like Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), which are active in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. These groups, affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State, pose a threat to regional stability and security. The expansion of such groups into neighboring countries like Benin and Togo underscores the complex security challenges facing the region.
The handover of the military base in Niger marks the end of an era of U.S. military presence in the country and raises questions about the future of counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel. The impact of this decision on regional security dynamics remains to be seen, as stakeholders assess the implications of the withdrawal of American troops from Niger.
