U.S. troops withdraw from base in terrorist-ravaged Niger

American troops and airmen left Nigerien Air Base 201 on Tuesday, more than a month ahead of schedule, according to a U.S. Air Force statement. U.S. forces began withdrawing from the region in mid-May, and the full withdrawal process won’t be complete for several more weeks, the Pentagon and Nigerien leaders confirmed on Monday. U.S. troops face a Sept. 15 deadline for leaving the country. The area is unstable with terrorist groups plotting kidnappings and other attacks, according to a travel advisory from the U.S. State Department.

Why are U.S. forces leaving the base? In July 2023, a new political party obtained control of the government following a coup, according to RT. Niger Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine told The Washington Post in May that U.S. forces were withdrawing after American officials threatened Niger and tried to dictate which alliances Niger should make. Niger also canceled two military cooperation agreements with the European Union in May. Weeks before the United States and Niger confirmed that American troops would be withdrawing, Niger received weapons and humanitarian aid from Russia, Kremlin-run media outlet TASS claimed.

Dig deeper: Read my report in The Sift about the U.S. and Niger confirming the withdrawal earlier this year.