U.S. military completes withdrawal from Niger’s Air base 201

The United States military has completed its pullout from air base 201 in Niger, officials reported on Monday, after the ruling junta commanded nearly 1,000 U.S. military personnel to depart following last year’s coup.

The $100 million drone base near Agadez in central Niger, Air Base 201, had supplied vital intelligence on Islamist militant groups before the coup.

A joint announcement from Niger’s defense ministry and the U.S. military confirmed that personnel and equipment had been withdrawn. Coordination will resume in the coming weeks to ensure the finished pullout.

“The effective cooperation and communication between the U.S. and Nigerien armed forces allowed this turnover to be completed ahead of schedule and without complications.”

The junta in Niger  has set a deadline of September 15 for the removal of U.S. troops from its territory.

Last month, U.S. forces withdrew from Air Base 101.

The decision to expel U.S. troops followed a mid-March meeting in Niamey, where senior U.S. officials expressed worries about the potential arrival of Russian forces and Iran’s interest in obtaining raw materials, including uranium, from Niger.

In April, Russia deployed military trainers to Niger.