NIAMEY: The United States military is set to withdraw all its forces and equipment from Niger, with a small base closure scheduled for this weekend and a larger drone base evacuation by August, in accordance with an agreement made with Niger’s ruling junta after last year’s coup, said American commander Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman.
Speaking in an interview, Air Force Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman, director for strategy at U.S. Africa Command, confirmed that preparations were underway for the departure from Niger. He said that small teams of U.S. troops, including special operations forces, have already been relocated to other West African countries, with the majority slated to initially move to Europe.
The decision to vacate comes as a significant development following Niger’s expulsion of American troops post a military takeover last year. This move impacts a critical drone base used for counterterrorism operations across the Sahel region, a vast area south of the Sahara Desert where extremist groups.
Ekman acknowledged the withdrawal’s strategic implications, emphasizing the operational challenges it poses in combating extremist threats amidst the growing insurgency in the Sahel. He highlighted concerns over groups, active across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, and their potential expansion into neighboring countries.
The U.S. military’s departure from Niger underscores broader security implications for the region, prompting discussions with other West African nations keen on collaborating with American forces. While some countries have shown interest, definitive agreements are pending.
Ekman reassured that despite the withdrawal, efforts are ongoing to maintain regional security partnerships and explore future cooperation possibilities with coastal nations like Togo and Ivory Coast.
