US to complete troops withdrawal from Niger by Sept. 15

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US and Niger agreed that the American troops withdrawal from the West African country will be over by Sept. 15, according to a joint statement on Sunday.

"The US Department of Defense and the Ministry of National Defense of Niger have reached a disengagement agreement to effect the withdrawal of US forces, which has already begun.

"It is, therefore, agreed that this disengagement will end no later than Sept. 15, 2024," according to the statement.

The statement came after representatives of Pentagon and the Niger's National Defense Department met on 15-19 May in the capital Niamey to coordinate the "orderly and safe withdrawal" of US forces from Niger.

Both delegations confirmed the guarantees of protection and security to the American forces during their withdrawal, it said, adding they "recall the common sacrifices of the Nigerien and American forces in the fight against terrorism and welcome the mutual efforts made in building up the Nigerien armed forces."

"The withdrawal of US forces from Niger does not affect the continuation of US-Niger development relations. The United States and Niger are committed to ongoing diplomatic dialogue to define the future of their bilateral relations," the statement read.

Niger terminated its longstanding military agreement with Washington in early March this year, declaring the presence of all US troops and contractors "illegal” because "it was not democratically approved and imposes unfavorable conditions on Niger, particularly in terms of a lack of transparency on military activities," according to Nigerien government spokesman Amadou Abdramane.

The US has approximately 1,100 troops in Niger.