US completes troop withdrawal from Niger

US forces completed the withdrawal of troops from Niger after the country suffered a coup d’état in 2023 and demanded that the American military leave the country, a setback for Washington in its fight against terrorism in the Sahel.

The Pentagon and Niger’s national defense department released a joint statement on Monday saying the withdrawal from Air Base 201 in the city of Agadez had been completed, a month earlier than previously expected.

American troops left the base in good condition and in a better state of defense, according to the statement.

The US withdrawal began in May, after negotiations between Niamey and Washington since the July 2023 coup led the military junta to seek a full exit. And this comes weeks after the US withdrew its first base near Niamey in July.

Niger is now led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, who led the military coup that overthrew former president Mohamed Bazoum last year.

Tchiani has been more hostile to Western nations, also forcing the French to withdraw troops from Niger at the end of 2023.

Niger has since moved closer to Russia, inviting Russian military trainers and advisers to the country earlier this year.

The coup in Niger follows several countries in the volatile Sahel region that have fallen to military junta in recent years, including Mali and Burkina Faso.

The developments imperiled U.S. counterterrorism efforts. Gen. Charles Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the U.S. will seek to cooperate with other countries in or near the region to ensure the threat from terrorism and insurgent groups does not increase.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story