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Withdrawal of US Forces, Assets from Niger Complete, Statement Says

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The United States has completed the full withdrawal of military forces and assets from its last base in Niger, according to a joint statement published by the US Africa Command on Monday.
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“The US Department of Defense and the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Niger announce that the withdrawal of U.S. forces and assets from Air Base 201 in Agadez is complete,” the statement said.
The statement added that the US and Nigerien militaries will continue coordinating over the coming weeks to ensure the full withdrawal is complete.
The airbase, which is located in Central Niger, was used by the US military to maintain a joint defense posture against the Islamic State and al-Qaeda (both terrorist groups banned in Russia) in the region, the statement said.
In early July, the United States completed withdrawal from Air Base 101 near Niamey, while most US troops in the country, or about 500 soldiers, have been stationed at Air Base 201.
The US troop withdrawal was initiated in March after a Nigerien military spokesperson said the country's transitional government, which took power in 2023, terminated the country's military agreement with the United States immediately, citing the interests of the Nigerien people.
Besides the United States, the new Nigerien authorities also began terminating military agreements with France and Germany, resulting in the gradual expulsion of foreign military contingents from the country.