Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The United States has officially begun the withdrawal of its troops from Niger, the chief of staff of the republic’s ground forces, Colonel Mamane Sani Kiau, said on June 8, as quoted by the Afrique Media television channel.
According to him, 269 American troops and 946 tons of military equipment have already left Niger.
Earlier, the National Council for the Defense of the Fatherland (CNSP) informed that American troops would leave the republic no later than mid-September. The Niger authorities gave the Americans permission to fly and land military aircraft.
As Regnum reported, plans to withdraw troops from Niger became known in May. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced this in the Senate, without giving a time frame. Two days later, Politico reported that the Pentagon had ordered all troops to leave the African country in the coming months.
The Niger authorities in mid-March deprived the American military of the opportunity to be on its territory, breaking the military agreement with the United States. According to the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the republic, Mohamed Tumba, Niger is interested in the country’s troops being trained by the Russian, and not the American, military.
A month and a half later, on May 3, Reuters reported that the Russian military entered the air base in Niamey, which is why the American contingent based in the republic declared increased combat readiness.
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