Protesters react as a man holds up a sign demanding that soldiers from the United States Army leave Niger without negotiation during a demonstration in Niamey, on 13 April 2024. The United States agreed on 19 April to withdraw its more than 1 000 troops from Niger. (AFP)
- US military equipment and personnel have started leaving Niger ahead of a December deadline.
- The US and Niger praised one another and promised ongoing – but unspecified – cooperation.
- America has refused to recognise Niger’s coup government, which has moved to strengthen ties with Russia.
The first US soldiers and equipment left Niger on Friday aboard an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, in the beginning of the end of US anti-jihadist operations in that country.
In a joint statement, the US State Department and Niger’s military regime said the departure from Niamey “exemplifies the productive cooperation between the US and Nigerien armed forces through the Joint Disengagement Commission, which is tasked with overseeing and coordinating the orderly and safe withdrawal of US forces from Niger.”
Niger’s coup government in April bluntly instructed the US to remove its troops from the country, and that evacuation is due to be complete by 15 December.
French soldiers also left the country last year as the Nigerien government forged closer ties with Russia.
The flight departed from a US airbase known as 101. The US also built and operated another base, called 201, which was a key drone facilities from which the US could strike jihadist groups in the Sahel region.
The US and Niger said they would guarantee the “protection and security of American forces during this process”.
READ | Niger, Uganda, CAR and Gabon kicked out of AGOA, as Mauritania is welcomed back
While the military pact has effectively failed – and several countries in the Sahel are signing up with Russia just as relations between Russia and NATO deteriorate – both sides said they would continue cooperating in areas of mutual interest.
They did not specify what those areas might be.
The countries also commended each other in writing for their efforts to strengthen the Nigerien Armed Forces.
The joint statement stated:
This withdrawal of US forces will not have an impact on the ongoing development relations between the US and Niger. Both countries remain committed to sustained diplomatic dialogue to shape the future of their bilateral relations.
After the July 2023 coup in Niger, the US paused some foreign assistance programmes that had direct benefits to the government in Niamey but continued with the provision of humanitarian and food assistance.
Relations weakened noticeably after the US refused to recognise the coup regime as a legitimate government.
The News24 Africa Desk is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The stories produced through the Africa Desk and the opinions and statements that may be contained herein do not reflect those of the Hanns Seidel Foundation
ADVERTISEMENT
Source link : https://www.news24.com/news24/africa/news/us-troops-start-leaving-niger-as-ordered-with-mutual-praise-and-promises-of-future-cooperation-20240610
Author :
Publish date : 2024-06-10 16:51:05