On Sunday, the US military finished pulling troops out of Air Base 101 in Niger’s capital Niamey as the US withdrawal from the country is progressing.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman, who is on the ground overseeing the withdrawal, said Friday that less than 500 US troops remain at Air Base 201, a major drone base located in Agadez that cost the US over $100 million to build.
The troops based at Air Base 201 are scheduled to complete their exit in August as the US has a deadline of September 15 to get out of the country. Two-thirds of the US troops and equipment must be out of Niger by July 26.
Ekman said that a small number of US special operations forces, about 10-20 soldiers, have redeployed elsewhere in Africa. But the bulk of the US troops being pulled out of Niger will be sent to Europe.
Air Base 201 served as a major hub for US military operations in the region, so the US tried to stay in Niger after the July 2023 coup that ousted former President Mohamed Bazoum but was forced out after a contentious meeting with the military-led government.
Ekman said the US is looking to establish a similar presence elsewhere in West Africa but didn’t specify where. Reuters reported last week that the US has had initial conversations about the possibility with Benin, Ivory Coast, and Ghana.
The US tried to stay in Niger following the coup, but Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine told The Washington Post that the US was asked to leave due to threats from US officials over Niger’s relationship with Russia and Iran. Zeine pointed to threats made by Molly Phee, the State Department’s top official for African affairs.
“When she finished, I said, ‘Madame, I am going to summarize in two points what you have said,’” Zeine said. “First, you have come here to threaten us in our country. That is unacceptable. And you have come here to tell us with whom we can have relationships, which is also unacceptable. And you have done it all with a condescending tone and a lack of respect.”
All Japan needs to do to get rid of the US occupation is to hire some ethnic minorities from Russia dress them up in Russian military uniform and station them in US bases. The US will run
America has become one trick pony. The selling of war is one and only method that American govts sell to nations in Africa. Hopefully, more African nations will kick out the US.
No worries. Biden can make a a lot of things happen before September 15 with the help of his "friends."
I am convinced that he does not now have an original thought. Any person, let alone a President, who says that he "runs the world", is not fit to run a pizza parlor.
The US military pulls out and the clandestine CIA/DIA and other nefarious criminals like Victoria Nuland come in to destabilize a country and lead a coup against that nation.
Right out of the fascist US Department of State handbook!
Don’t let the door hit you, on your way home but do come home safely.
Many will not come home, directly. Those with certain MOS will be redirected as to their "skills". Its the way it is.
Where to now on the maps of wars or wars to be will they go?
Ekman said the US is looking to establish a similar presence elsewhere in West Africa but didn’t specify where. Reuters reported last week that the US has had initial conversations about the possibility with Benin, Ivory Coast, and Ghana.
Benin, Ivory Coast and Ghana won't want US military presence in their country…! The era of US buying its bases in Africa is over…!
I hope you are right about the era of US buying bases in Africa being over.
I am quite sure Zeine is spot on on the lack of respect, threats, and condescending tone. This is why so many countries are forging ties with Russia. The Russians don't try to dictate policy or talk to them like children.