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US Forces Completing Withdrawal From Niger's Air Base 101 on Sunday, Defense Official Says

© AP Photo / Tech. Sgt. Christopher DyerIn this US Air Force image, Maj. Gen. Kenneth P. Ekman speaks in front of a "Welcome to Niamey" sign showing US military vehicles at Air Base 101 in Niger, May 30. 2024.
In this US Air Force image, Maj. Gen. Kenneth P. Ekman speaks in front of a Welcome to Niamey sign showing US military vehicles at Air Base 101 in Niger, May 30. 2024. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 06.07.2024
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Earlier, the United States and Niger issued a joint statement, making the announcement that American forces will leave the nation "no later" than September 15. In early June, the US had already begun this process.
US forces will complete a withdrawal from Air Base 101 in Niger on Sunday, but several hundred other troops will remain at a second air base in the country through September, a US defense official told Sputnik on Friday.
However, the official noted that the majority of some 500 US troops currently in Niger are stationed at Air Base 201 near the Nigerien city of Agadez. Those troops will remain in the country through September.

"They will also close down 201 as well, but the priority was 101 in Niamey first, followed by 201. AB 201 withdrawal will be complete no later than September 15," the official said.

Niger's and Russia's national flags are seen as supporters of Niger's National Council of Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) protest outside the Niger and French airbase in Niamey on September 2, 2023 to demand the departure of the French army from Niger. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 10.06.2024
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Niger Interested in Placing Russian Military Base on Its Territory to Help Fight Terrorism
On June 8, the United States and Niger announced the beginning of the withdrawal of American troops from the African country. An agreement on the withdrawal was reached in mid-May.
In March, Niger terminated a military agreement with the United States, according to which an American UAV base had been established in the north of the African country. A Nigerien military spokesperson said the country's transitional government, which took power in a coup in July 2023, made such a decision because the agreement was imposed on the country and did not meet the interests of its people.
At the end of 2023, there were about 1,100 US military personnel in Niger, most of them stationed at an air force base near Agadez.
Interestingly, in mid-June, Honorary Consul of Russia in the African Republic Addo Iro told Russian media that his country is ready to host a full-fledged Russian military base on the territory of the country to help reduce the number of terrorist attacks in the nation.
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