The United States has completed the withdrawal of its military personnel from Niger, finishing the process ahead of the mid-September deadline set by the country’s ruling junta.
Following the earlier exit from Air Base 101 in the capital of Niamey, the final phase concluded with the turnover of Air Base 201 near Agadez on August 5, 2024. This $100 million facility had been a primary hub for intelligence and drone surveillance targeting extremist groups in the Sahel.
The departure follows the termination of defense agreements by Niger’s military leadership, which seized power in a 2023 coup and has since moved to align more closely with Russia, Mali, and Burkina Faso. U.S. officials described the withdrawal as a professional and collaborative effort between the two militaries, though it significantly impacts Western counterterrorism capabilities in the region.
Only a minimal administrative presence remains at the U.S. Embassy in Niamey to manage the transition of bilateral relations.
