May 20, 2024
2 mins read

US to pull out troops from Niger by Sep. 15

The newly agreed deadline gives the US four months to drawdown fewer than 1,000 troops who remain in the country…reports Asian Lite News

The US has reached an agreement with Niger to withdraw its military forces from the African nation by September 15, according to the US Defence Department and the Nigerien Ministry of National Defence, CNN reported.

The newly agreed deadline gives the US four months to drawdown fewer than 1,000 troops who remain in the country, as well as their equipment, which includes MQ-9 Reaper drones and other assets.

Niger’s military government announced in March that it had ended an accord with the US that allowed military personnel and civilian staff from the Department of Defence to operate in the country.

The US delegation met with Niger’s ruling military junta last week to try to reach an agreement that would allow for the secure withdrawal of US forces and for clearances for military flights. The flight clearances had been a sticking point in the sensitive negotiations needed to withdraw US forces.

Until now, US troops who have left Niger took commercial flights, including as recently as last week, according to US officials. The remaining troops on the ground are tasked with drawing down US personnel and equipment still in Niger.

The US delegation was led by Chris Meier, the assistant secretary of defence for special operations and low-intensity conflict. The Nigerien delegation was led by Col.-Maj. Mamane Sani Kiaou, the chief of staff of the Nigerian army, CNN reported.

“Both delegations confirmed the guarantees of protection and security to the American forces during their withdrawal. The delegations also established procedures to facilitate the entry and exit of US personnel, including overflight and landing clearances for military flights,” the joint statement said.

A deepening divide between the US and the ruling military junta following the coup last July ultimately led to the withdrawal, as the Biden administration called for a path back to free and fair elections. Rebuffing the calls, the military junta instead began partnering more with Russia, whose forces are now operating at the same base from which US forces are withdrawing, CNN reported.

The US and Niger said they would continue to work together on areas of “common interest.”

“The United States and Niger are committed to ongoing diplomatic dialogue to define the future of their bilateral relations,” the statement said. (ANI)

ALSO READ: US Presses Israel for Gaza Strategy Amid Conflict

Previous Story

UNRWA: Nearly 800,000 now displaced from Rafah

Next Story

Spain recalls envoy to Argentina over ‘insult’

Latest from -Top News

AU Backs New UN Libya Roadmap

The Roadmap seeks to resolve the Libyan crisis through a political process centred on institutional unification…reports Asian Lite News The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has

Sudan Feels Impact of GERD

The GERD project remains a point of contention among Nile Basin countries….reports Asian Lite News Water levels in Sudan’s Blue Nile have fallen to record lows following Ethiopia’s announcement that it has

UNESCO sounds alarm on teacher gap

Amina Mohammed proposed a five-point plan to strengthen the profession through greater investment, gender equality, support for digital learning…reports Asian Lite News At the UNESCO World Summit on Teachers in Santiago, Chile,

Modi Ends China Trip, US Hails India Ties

US termed India-US ties as a “defining relationship of the 21st century”, stating that partnership between both countries continues to reach new heights….reports Asian Lite News Shortly after videos and images of
Go toTop

Don't Miss

US, Japan all set for ‘2+2’ meeting

The 2+2 Meeting has long been a high-level forum for

US CDC predicts over 62k Covid deaths in 4 weeks

The country reported nearly 3,000 new deaths from Covid-19 on