DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The U.S. passed over its closing army base in Niger — certainly one of two the most important hubs for American counterterrorism operations within the nation — to native government, the U.S. Division of Protection and Niger’s Ministry of Protection introduced in a joint commentary on Monday.The delivering of Airbase 201 within the town of Agadez got here after the U.S. troops withdrew previous this month from Airbase 101, a small drone base in Niger’s capital of Niamey.U.S. troops have till Sept. 15 to depart the Sahel nation following an settlement with Nigerien government.There are about two dozen American infantrymen who stay in Niger, in large part for administrative tasks associated with the withdrawal, in step with Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon spokeswoman. They’re positioned on the U.S. embassy.In March, Niger’s ruling junta ended an settlement that allowed U.S. troops to function within the West African nation. A couple of months later, officers of the 2 nations introduced in a joint commentary that U.S. troops would entire their withdrawal via the center of September.
Niger have been observed as one of the vital closing countries within the restive area that Western countries may just spouse with to overcome again rising jihadi insurgencies. The U.S. and France had greater than 2,500 army workforce within the area till lately, and in conjunction with different Eu nations had invested masses of thousands and thousands of bucks in army help and coaching.
In contemporary months Niger has pulled clear of its Western companions, turning as an alternative to Russia for safety. In April, Russian army running shoes arrived in Niger to beef up the rustic’s air defenses.
Niger’s ouster of American troops following a coup closing yr has vast ramifications for the U.S. as a result of it’s forcing troops to desert the essential base that was once used for counterterrorism missions within the Sahel, a limiteless area south of the Sahara desolate tract the place teams connected to al-Qaida and the Islamic State staff function A type of teams, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, referred to as JNIM, is lively in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger and is taking a look to amplify into Benin and Togo. ——-—Related Press reporter Lolita Baldor contributed from Washington.
