US withdraws troops from Niger

WASHINGTON:

The United States military announced Monday that it had completed its withdrawal from Niger, after coup leaders in the African country demanded that its troops depart.

The United States had more than 1,000 troops in Niger as part of anti-jihadist missions in several Sahel nations of West Africa, including a major drone base, but Niger's military leaders scrapped a military cooperation deal with Washington after seizing power in a 2023 coup.

The United States and Niger "announce that the withdrawal of US forces and assets from Niger is complete," US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said in a statement.

"The safe, orderly, and responsible withdrawal was completed without complications, by the mutually decided date of September 15, 2024," AFRICOM said, adding that American troops have "trained Niger's forces and supported partner-led counterterrorism missions" over the past decade.