US Withdraws from Niger: Military Bases Handed Over to Local Authorities

The US has transferred its last military bases in Niger, including Airbase 201 in Agadez, to local authorities. This follows an earlier withdrawal from Airbase 101 in Niamey. The move comes after Niger's ruling junta ended an agreement allowing US troops to operate in the country.

The US has officially handed over its last military base in Niger, a significant move marking the end of an era for American counterterrorism operations in the country. Both the US Department of Defence and Niger's Ministry of Defence confirmed the transfer of Airbase 201 in Agadez in a joint statement released on Monday.

This transition follows the withdrawal of US troops earlier this month from Airbase 101 in Niamey, Niger's capital. According to Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh, around two dozen American soldiers remain in Niger to handle administrative tasks related to the withdrawal, stationed at the US embassy.

The shifting geopolitical landscape in Niger, with the junta's decision to end the operational agreement, has broader implications as the country leans towards Russian support for its security needs. The US and France previously had over 2,500 military personnel in the region to combat growing jihadi insurgencies, but this partnership dynamic is now undergoing a significant transformation.