Pentagon to Withdraw US Troops from Niger by Mid-September

U.S. troops are being ordered out of Niger by the country’s ruling junta, with their withdrawal expected to be completed by mid-September, according to statements from the Pentagon and Nigerien defense officials on Sunday.

The timeline for withdrawal was established after four days of discussions between defense officials from both countries in Niamey, the capital city, as mentioned in a joint statement.

Niger’s decision to expel American forces has impacted U.S. military operations in the Sahel region, located south of the Sahara desert, where groups affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State are active.

The breakdown in military cooperation came after the removal of Niger’s democratically elected president by mutinous soldiers last July. Subsequently, the ruling junta requested the departure of French forces and sought security assistance from the Russian mercenary group Wagner.

In October, the U.S. officially classified the military takeover as a coup, triggering restrictions on military support and aid to Niger under U.S. laws.

Approximately 1,000 U.S. troops remain in Niger, primarily stationed at an airbase near Agadez, about 550 miles from the capital.

Niger was considered a key partner by Washington in a region plagued by coups, with significant investments made in the Agadez base critical for U.S. counterterrorism efforts. The U.S. has also provided substantial funding for training Niger’s military since operations began in 2013.

The Pentagon has announced plans to relocate most of the approximately 100 troops deployed in Chad for the time being. Talks are expected to resume next month to revise an agreement permitting the presence of U.S. troops in Chad.