Americans Withdraw Their Troops from Niger Airbase

US military personnel have withdrawn their forces from Niger’s 101st airbase, Reuters reports. In April, Niger's ruling junta ordered the United States to remove around 1,000 troops that had been deployed in the West African nation following a coup last year.

“Thanks to the effective collaboration and communication between the armed forces of Nigeria and the United States, this operation has been completed ahead of schedule and without any complications,” stated a joint announcement from the defense ministries of Niger and the US.

US Air Force Major General Kenneth Ekman noted that troops will take away $100 million worth of drones from the base near Agadez in central Niger, which have provided critical intelligence regarding jihadist-affiliated groups. The American general added that the withdrawal from the 201st airbase is expected to occur in August.

Niger's ruling junta has given the US until September 15 to withdraw its forces from the country. In April, Russia sent military instructors to Niger. Niger and its military leadership's neighbors, Mali and Burkina Faso, have signed an agreement to form a federation. They have severed previously signed defense agreements with the US, Europe, and the UN.