Junta’s rule leads to US military withdrawal from Niger

The United States has completed its military withdrawal from Niger, a US official confirmed on Monday. Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh stated that while most personnel have departed, a small number of troops remain to guard the US embassy.

Earlier this year, Niger’s ruling junta terminated an agreement that permitted US forces to operate in the West African country. Several months later, both governments issued a joint statement indicating that the full withdrawal would be completed by mid-September.

Singh noted that the US handed over its last military bases in Niger to local authorities in August, though around two dozen American soldiers stayed on to manage administrative aspects of the withdrawal.

Niger had long been considered a key ally in combating growing jihadi insurgencies across the Sahel. (Reuters)

Niger’s expulsion of US troops following last year’s coup presents significant challenges for Washington, as the country had served as a critical hub for counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel region. Armed groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State operate extensively in the vast area south of the Sahara.

One of these groups, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), is particularly active in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, with ambitions to expand into Benin and Togo.

Until recently, the US and France maintained more than 2,500 military personnel in the region, alongside other European countries, investing heavily in military training and assistance.

However, in recent months, Niger has distanced itself from Western partners, opting to strengthen ties with Russia. Russian military trainers arrived in Niger in April to bolster the nation’s air defences.

(with inputs from AP)

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