The US military will complete its withdrawal from Niger’s Air Base 101 in the capital Niamey on Sunday, and will then shift its focus to exiting a major drone base in the coming weeks, according to a US general on Friday.
Niger’s ruling junta ordered the US to withdraw its nearly 1,000 military personnel from the country in April, following a coup last year. This marks a significant setback for Washington, as Niger had been a crucial partner in the fight against insurgents in the Sahel region.
These insurgents have caused thousands of deaths and displaced millions. With the withdrawal, US intelligence on extremist groups in the region is expected to diminish.
Air Force Major General Kenneth Ekman, coordinating the departure in Niger, announced that the US exit from Air Base 101 will be marked by a ceremony.
The base is adjacent to Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey.
“We will do a joint ceremony on that occasion that marks the departure of the last US C-17 aircraft. The government of Niger will assume control of former US areas and facilities,” Ekman stated via video conference.
As the US exits, Russia has deployed military forces to the same base for training activities. US officials report no contact between US and Russian personnel, with Ekman emphasizing that Niger has assured the separation of these forces.
“When I last talked to a Nigerian interlocutor, he quantified the presence of Russian forces as under 100. And he also mentioned that once the training is complete, the Russians will be told to leave,” Ekman said.
