US army closes its last base in Niger: Video

The US military has completed its withdrawal from Air Base 201 in Agadez, Niger, ending a year-long exit process following demands from the country’s coup leaders.

The Pentagon, in a statement with Niger’s defence ministry, confirmed that the last of the US troops had left the base. The remaining personnel are now at the US embassy in Niger, handling final administrative tasks. This withdrawal was wrapped up ahead of the September deadline initially set.

"Thanks to exemplary coordination and communication between Nigerien and US armed forces, this operation was concluded safely and in accordance with agreements that had been signed," Colonel Mamane Sani Kiaou, Niger's army chief of staff said.

The move comes after a military coup in Niger on July 26, 2023, which removed President Mohamed Bazoum. The new regime, under General Abdourahamane Tiani, has shifted its foreign policy, distancing itself from Western allies and strengthening ties with Russia, Turkey, and Iran.

The US plans to continue its counter-terrorism efforts in West Africa through collaborations with other countries, such as Ivory Coast.