US ends military presence in Niger with final base transfer

The United States has officially concluded its military withdrawal from Niger, handing over control of the last remaining base in the country to the local armed forces.

This development marks the completion of the US troop exit from the African nation, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The final handover took place on August 5, 2024, with the US military transferring control of Air Base 201 in Agadez, located in northern Niger. This handover comes ahead of the initially planned deadline of September 15. In addition to the base, the US forces removed weapons and sensitive technologies from the site.

Prior to this, the US had already vacated Air Base 101 in Niamey, Niger's capital, in July 2024. Despite the rapid completion of the withdrawal, a small contingent of US personnel will remain at the American embassy in Niger to handle administrative tasks.

The newspaper reports that the withdrawal process has been managed with significantly fewer disruptions compared to the chaotic US exit from Afghanistan in 2021. This orderly transition has been noted as a positive contrast to previous high-profile military withdrawals.