"The withdrawal process began on May 19, after the two sides agreed on the terms. US troops and equipment withdrew from Air Base 101 in Niamey on July 7 and left Air Base 201 in Agadez on August 5," CNN quoted AFRICOM's announcement on September 16.
Niger's military government in April asked the United States to withdraw nearly 1,000 troops from the country. Niger has been an important partner of the United States in the fight against terrorism and insurgent movements. In 2023, the military government took power in Niger in a coup and terminated the agreement signed with the United States - allowing US military and Defense Department personnel to operate in Niger, according to Reuters.
Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said on September 16 that the few US military personnel remaining at the US Embassy in Niger are standard.
"Over the past 10 years, U.S. troops have trained Nigerien forces and supported our partners in counterterrorism missions targeting the Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda in the region. The U.S. Department of Defense and the Nigerien military recognize the contributions of both forces," according to AFRICOM.
Niger ends military agreement with US, criticizes "arrogant" behavior
In March, a US military delegation visited Niger, where AFRICOM commander Michael Langley expressed concern about Niger’s growing ties with Russia. After Niger announced it was asking the US to withdraw its troops, CNN reported in May that Russian and US troops were operating out of a joint base in Niger.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/my-hoan-tat-rut-quan-khoi-niger-185240917171907124.htm
Comment (0)