The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Niger has been successfully completed, according to an American official. While a small number of military personnel remain to guard the U.S. Embassy, the majority of troops have left the West African country.
Earlier this year, Niger's ruling junta terminated an agreement that permitted U.S. troops to operate within its borders. Following this decision, both countries announced that the U.S. troops would finalize their withdrawal by mid-September.
Last month, the U.S. handed over its final military bases in Niger to local authorities. However, approximately two dozen American soldiers stayed behind for administrative tasks related to the withdrawal process.
The expulsion of American troops by Niger, which occurred after a coup last year, has significant implications for Washington. The move forces troops to vacate crucial bases that were utilized for counterterrorism operations in the Sahel region, where groups affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State are active.
One such group, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), operates in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, with intentions to expand into Benin and Togo.
Niger was considered one of the few remaining nations in the volatile region that Western countries could collaborate with to combat the escalating jihadi insurgencies. Until recently, the U.S. and France, along with other European nations, had over 2,500 military personnel in the area and had made substantial investments in military aid and training.
In a shift away from its Western partners, Niger has begun seeking security assistance from Russia. In April, Russian military trainers arrived in Niger to bolster the country's air defense capabilities.
