The U.S. has taken all of its military troops out of the African nation of Niger. The withdrawal, completed one month after the first departure of U.S. military aircraft from its base in the Nigerien capital, ended with a ceremony between U.S. and Nigerien military personnel.
The United States Army thus ended the process of withdrawal of more than 1,000 soldiers from the combat troops the country had at Air Base 101 in Niamey. Last March, the military junta of Niger revoked the military cooperation agreement between the two countries, signed in 2012.
“We value the last 15 years of cooperation on security and sacrifice shared by the United States and Niger forces,” said Kenneth P. Ekman, director of strategy, participation and programs at the United States Africa Command.
General Ekman thanked the “Nigerien hosts” for their support in securing a safe retreat, while saying that the “next chapter” of the bilateral security relationship with Niger is yet to be defined.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger signed last Saturday a treaty establishing the Confederation of Sahelian States (ESC) which will be free from foreign influence.
