US Troop Withdrawal from Niger Completed by Early August

The United States has announced that it will complete its troop withdrawal from Niger by early August, ahead of the previously agreed deadline. The decision comes after the Nigerien military regime demanded the withdrawal, which was initially expected to take place by September 15.

General Kenneth Ekman, the US commander for Africa, made the announcement during a press conference in Abidjan. According to Ekman, the withdrawal is proceeding smoothly and is ahead of schedule due to the excellent coordination with Nigerien military counterparts.

The US troops were part of an international effort to combat jihadist forces that regularly strike across the region. However, the Nigerien military leaders who seized power in a coup last year demanded that US and French forces leave the country.

Ekman expressed concerns about the consequences for regional security, stating that the violent extremist threat is growing and increasingly threatening countries around the Sahel. Despite this, he emphasized that the US will continue to work with Ivory Coast security forces.

The US military has recently participated in the “Flintlock” military exercises in Ivory Coast, which involved hundreds of soldiers from Western and African countries. Ekman denied media reports that the US is looking to build a base in Odienne, in the north of the country.

The US troop withdrawal from Niger marks a significant development in the region, and its impact on regional security remains to be seen.