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The United States military has officially confirmed that it will complete the withdrawal of its personnel from Niger’s Air Base 101 by Sunday, with plans to exit a significant drone base in the coming weeks.
Air Force Major General Kenneth Ekman, who is overseeing the withdrawal, stated that the process at Air Base 101 in Niamey will conclude with a ceremony on Sunday evening. “We will do a joint ceremony on that occasion that marks the departure of the last US C-17 aircraft. The government of Niger will assume control of former US areas and facilities,” Ekman said. As US forces leave, Russian military personnel have been conducting training activities at the base. Ekman assured that there has been no interaction between US and Russian forces, adding, “When I last talked to a Nigerian interlocutor, he quantified the presence of Russian forces as under 100.” Ekman said the Russian troops would also leave at the end of their training exercises.
The withdrawal also includes vacating Air Base 201 near Agadez, a $100-million drone base that has been crucial for intelligence on extremist groups. Ekman mentioned that the exit from this base could be completed early, likely next month. Regarding the morale among US forces, he acknowledged a range of emotions, saying, “When you have a session with airmen and soldiers, you get everything from laughter to tears.”
The decision follows an order by Niger’s ruling junta in April, which demanded the withdrawal of nearly 1,000 US military personnel, a significant setback for Washington after last year’s coup. Before the coup, Niger was a key partner in combating insurgents in the Sahel region, where extremist groups have caused widespread violence and displacement.
The US is now exploring other options in West Africa, but officials note that intelligence on these groups is diminishing.
