The United States is set to complete its withdrawal of forces and equipment from an air base in Niamey, the capital of Niger, by Sunday, marking the occasion with a joint ceremony. The next phase involves the exit from a Niger drone base, scheduled for completion in August.
These departures comply with a September 15 deadline agreed upon by the U.S. and Niger’s ruling junta. The new military leaders of Niger ordered U.S. troops to leave following a coup in Niamey last year. Major General Kenneth Ekman, who is coordinating the exits, indicated that most U.S. forces will be relocated to European locations, though small teams have been moved to other West African countries.
Despite withdrawing some valuable equipment from the bases, the U.S. is not destroying the equipment and facilities left behind. Ekman emphasized the importance of leaving things in good condition, saying, “Our goal in the execution is, leave things in as good a state as possible. If we went out and left it a wreck, or if we went out spitefully, or if we destroyed things as we went, we’d be foreclosing options that both nations need for the future. And our security objectives are still entwined.”
The withdrawals, particularly from the drone base, represent a significant setback to U.S. counterterrorism missions in the Sahel. This vast African region is plagued by insurgents linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State groups. Ekman, who is the director of strategy at U.S. Africa Command, noted that other African countries concerned about Sahel-based insurgent threats have approached the U.S. for partnership in combating militants.
“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 explained. The challenge now will be accessing the area from outside Niger, complicating U.S. counterterrorism efforts.
As the U.S. adjusts its strategy in West Africa, the focus will be on maintaining regional security and countering extremist threats despite the logistical hurdles posed by the withdrawal from Niger.
