US Hands Over Final Military Base in Niger, Completes Withdrawal

The United States has handed over its last military base in Niger to local authorities, marking the completion of the American troop withdrawal from the country. The move comes as Niger increasingly aligns itself with Russia, leaving Western nations with fewer options to combat growing jihadi insurgencies in the region.

The United States has handed over its last military base in Niger to local authorities, marking the completion of the American troop withdrawal from the country. The handing over of Airbase 201 in the city of Agadez came after the US troops withdrew earlier this month from Airbase 101, a small drone base in Niger's capital of Niamey.

The US troops have until September 15 to leave the Sahel country following an agreement with Nigerien authorities. There are about two dozen American soldiers who remain in Niger, largely for administrative duties related to the withdrawal, according to Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon spokeswoman. They are located at the US embassy.

US Hands Over Final Military Base in Niger, Completes Withdrawal

The US withdrawal from Niger is part of a broader shift in the American military's focus away from counterterrorism operations and towards great power competition with China and Russia. The US has been gradually reducing its troop presence in Africa in recent years, and the withdrawal from Niger is the latest example of this trend.

Niger had been seen as one of the last nations in the restive region that Western nations could partner with to beat back growing jihadi insurgencies. The US and France had more than 2,500 military personnel in the region until recently, and together with other European countries had invested hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance and training.

US Hands Over Final Military Base in Niger, Completes Withdrawal

However, in recent months, Niger has pulled away from its Western partners, turning instead to Russia for security. In April, Russian military trainers arrived in Niger to reinforce the country's air defenses.

Niger's ouster of American troops following a coup last year has broad ramifications for the US because it is forcing troops to abandon the critical base that was used for counterterrorism missions in the Sahel, a vast region south of the Sahara desert where groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group operate.

One of those groups, Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, known as JNIM, is active in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger and is looking to expand into Benin and Togo.

The US withdrawal from Niger is likely to make it more difficult for the US to combat terrorism in the Sahel. The US will still have a presence in the region, but it will be much smaller and less capable. This will make it more difficult for the US to carry out counterterrorism operations and to provide support to local security forces.

The US withdrawal from Niger is also a sign of the growing influence of Russia in Africa. Russia has been increasing its military presence in Africa in recent years, and it is now seen as a major player in the region. Russia's growing influence is likely to make it more difficult for the US to maintain its influence in Africa.

The US withdrawal from Niger is a significant development that has implications for the US's counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel and for the broader US-Russia rivalry in Africa.