Niger: Announcement of the start of the withdrawal of US troops
The United States and Niger announced the start of the withdrawal of American troops from the country, to end no later than September 15 at the latest.
A statement signed by Nigerien Defense Minister Salifu Modi and US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations Christopher Meyer confirmed that the two sides had reached a disengagement agreement with the aim of implementing the withdrawal of US forces that has already begun.
The statement pointed out that “the withdrawal of US forces doesn’t affect in any way the continuation of relations” between the two countries “in the field of development,” and the two countries have a cooperation agreement, under which Washington will provide Niamey with about $500 million over 3 years, in development assistance.
The developments come after several days of talks in Niamey between members of a delegation from the US Department of Defense and their Nigerien counterparts, which were carried out with “full transparency and full mutual respect,” according to the statement.
The Nigerien military council announced in mid-March the cancellation of the military cooperation agreement that had existed between Niamey and Washington for more than 10 years, and called for the withdrawal of US troops from the country.
Washington agreed in mid-April to withdraw its 1,100 soldiers and contract workers.
The United States has a large drone base near Agadez in the north that cost $100 million to build.
