The United States is set to remove all its forces and equipment from Niger following last year’s coup, with the withdrawal process already underway. Air Force Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman, director for strategy at U.S. Africa Command, announced that American troops will leave a small base in Niamey this weekend, with the remaining forces departing from the critical drone base in Agadez by August.
The withdrawal comes in response to a September 15 deadline set by Niger’s new ruling junta. Ekman stated that a number of small teams, including special operations forces, have already relocated to other West African countries. The bulk of the forces, however, will initially move to Europe.
This forced exit has significant implications for U.S. counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel region, where groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State operate. The Agadez base was crucial for drone missions in the area.
Despite the setback, Ekman indicated that other West African nations are open to increased American presence, with the Ivory Coast and Ghana mentioned as potential new locations for U.S. forces.
The withdrawal agreement requires two-thirds of U.S. troops and equipment to be out of Niger by July 26. Ekman emphasized that unlike the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the U.S. is not destroying equipment or facilities as it leaves Niger.
The military coup in Niger last July led to the ouster of the country’s democratically elected president, prompting the junta to order U.S. forces out. This decision followed a similar expulsion of French forces, with the junta turning to the Russian mercenary group Wagner for security assistance.
As the U.S. reconfigures its presence in West Africa, officials are grappling with the challenge of maintaining counterterrorism capabilities in the face of growing security threats in the Sahel region.
AP
