The U.S. handed implicit its past subject basal successful Niger — 1 of 2 important hubs for American counterterrorism operations successful the state — to section authorities, the U.S. Department of Defense and Niger’s Ministry of Defense announced successful a associated connection connected Monday.
The handing implicit of Airbase 201 successful the metropolis of Agadez came aft the U.S. troops withdrew earlier this period from Airbase 101, a tiny drone basal successful Niger’s superior of Niamey.
U.S. troops person until Sept. 15 to permission the Sahel country pursuing an statement with Nigerien authorities.
US MILITARY SEEKS NEW ALLIANCES IN WEST AFRICA AFTER NIGER OUSTING
There are astir 2 twelve American soldiers who stay successful Niger, mostly for administrative duties related to the withdrawal, according to Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon spokeswoman. They are located astatine the U.S. embassy.
In March, Niger’s ruling junta ended an statement that allowed U.S. troops to run successful the West African country. A fewer months later, officials of the 2 countries announced successful a associated connection that U.S. troops would implicit their withdrawal by the mediate of September.
Niger had been seen arsenic 1 of the past nations successful the restive portion that Western nations could spouse with to bushed backmost increasing jihadi insurgencies. The U.S. and France had much than 2,500 subject unit successful the portion until recently, and unneurotic with different European countries had invested hundreds of millions of dollars successful subject assistance and training.
In caller months Niger has pulled distant from its Western partners, turning alternatively to Russia for security. In April, Russian subject trainers arrived successful Niger to reenforce the country’s aerial defenses.
Niger’s ouster of American troops pursuing a coup past twelvemonth has wide ramifications for the U.S. due to the fact that it is forcing troops to wantonness the captious basal that was utilized for counterterrorism missions successful the Sahel, a immense portion southbound of the Sahara godforsaken wherever groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State radical operate.
One of those groups, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, known arsenic JNIM, is progressive successful Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger and is looking to grow into Benin and Togo.
English (US)