U.S. Military Withdraws from Niger's Air Base 201

The United States military has completed its withdrawal from Air Base 201 in Niger following an order from Niger's ruling junta. The base had provided crucial intelligence on militant groups before a coup last year. Coordination for the complete pullout will continue in the coming weeks.

The United States military has finalized its withdrawal from Air Base 201 in Niger, following an order from the country's ruling junta. The withdrawal affects nearly 1,000 U.S. military personnel who had been stationed at the drone base near Agadez, built at a cost of $100 million.

A joint statement by Niger's defense ministry and the U.S. military confirmed that both personnel and equipment have been withdrawn. Coordination between the two armed forces is ongoing to ensure the pullout is complete, with efforts noted for their efficiency and a lack of complications.

The decision to ask U.S. troops to leave follows a coup last year and comes after high-level discussions around the presence of foreign forces, including concerns about Russia and Iran's activities in Niger. Russian military trainers were sent to Niger in April.