Niamey, Niger — The United States will remove all its forces and equipment from a small base in Niger this weekend, with fewer than 500 remaining troops set to leave a critical drone base in the West African country in August. This move is in line with an agreement made with Niger’s new junta, with a deadline of September 15, said Air Force Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman on Friday.
Maj. Gen. Ekman stated that small teams of 10-20 U.S. troops, including special operations forces, have already relocated to other countries in West Africa, while the majority will be moved to Europe initially.
Niger’s expulsion of U.S. troops follows a coup last year and significantly impacts U.S. counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel region, where groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State operate. The withdrawal will result in the abandonment of a critical drone base used for counterterrorism missions.
Ekman noted that other West African nations, potentially including the Ivory Coast and Ghana, may be open to an increased U.S. presence. Talks with these nations are ongoing.
The U.S. military is also set to withdraw from the small base at the Niamey airport and the larger counterterrorism base in Agadez. A ceremony marking the pullout from the airport base will take place on Sunday, followed by the departure of the final 100 troops and the last C-17 transport aircraft.
Under the junta agreement, two-thirds of U.S. troops and equipment must be out of the country by July 26, prompting a swift response from the Pentagon to ensure the complete withdrawal of all 1,000 troops from Niger early. However, this creates a counterterrorism gap amid growing security threats from extremist groups in the Sahel.
One such group, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), is active in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, with aims to expand into Benin and Togo. These regions may serve as initial hubs for rest, financing, and weapons gathering, but the group has also increased attacks there.
“Niger was immensely helpful for us as a location because it was in the Sahel and it was adjacent to those areas where the threat is most concentrated,” Ekman said. The challenge now lies in battling the insurgency from outside Niger, making access more difficult.
Ekman emphasized the importance of partnerships with other West African nations concerned about Sahel-based threats. While some nations are open to increased U.S. military presence, others, like Togo, remain hesitant.
During the withdrawal, larger equipment, such as 18 generators worth over $1 million each, will be taken out of Agadez. Unlike the Afghanistan withdrawal, the U.S. is not destroying equipment or facilities, aiming to leave the sites in good condition for potential future security relations.
The junta in Niger ordered U.S. forces out following the ouster of the democratically elected president last July. French forces were also asked to leave as the junta sought security assistance from the Russian mercenary group Wagner. The U.S. officially designated the takeover as a coup in October, triggering legal restrictions on military support and aid.
Ekman reported fewer than 100 Russian troops are currently training Niger forces and are expected to leave once their training is complete.
