The United States department of defense has announced completion of withdrawal of its forces from the Niger Republic.
According to a joint news release from the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of National Defense of the Republic of Niger, “Representatives of the U.S. Department of Defense and the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Niger met from May 15 to 19, 2024, in Niamey, Republic of Niger, as part of a joint Disengagement Commission, to coordinate the orderly and safe withdrawal of U.S. forces from Niger.”
A small number of military personnel assigned to guard the U.S. Embassy will remain, Pentagon Spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters.
“Both delegations confirmed the guarantees of protection and security to the American forces during their withdrawal. The delegations also established procedures to facilitate the entry and exit of U.S. personnel, including overflight and landing for military flights”, reads the joint release.
Amadou Abdramane, Niger military spokesperson, said the agreement between the two countries, signed in 2012, was imposed and had been in violation of the nation’s sovereignty. There were reportedly around 1, 000 U.S. military personnel based in the Sahelian country.
The U.S. also had military bases in Niger that played a vital role in the US-France strategy to combat jihadists in West Africa. However, the coup in the West African country as well as its alliance with Russia had soured its relationship with both France and the U.S.
The U.S.-Niger said the withdrawal does affect the continued “development relations” between both countries. “The United States and Niger are committed to ongoing diplomatic dialogue to define the future of their bilateral relations.”
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