US Military Completes Withdrawal from Niger

The withdrawal follows a coup and the end of a military agreement, marking a significant shift in US counterterrorism efforts in West Africa.

The US military has fully withdrawn nearly 1,000 personnel from Niger, completing the process by the September 15 deadline.
Niger's ruling junta, which took power in a 2023 coup, ordered the withdrawal in April, ending a key counterterrorism partnership.
The withdrawal included the phased departure from Air Base 101 in Niamey and Air Base 201 in Agadez.
Niger has turned to Russia for security assistance, with Russian military trainers arriving in April to bolster air defenses.
US officials express concern over diminishing intelligence and growing extremist threats in the Sahel region.