US set to evacuate ‘Illegal’ troops from Niger

Strengthening ties with Russia as it pulls back from Western allies, Niger has deemed US troops’ presence ‘illegal’.

The United States says it will pull all its troops out of Niger within the next four months or so after the West African country’s military government ordered them to leave.

Niger last month told Washington to withdraw its military personnel, which number close to 1,000, branding their presence “illegal”. The military government, which took power last year, has already overseen the withdrawal of troops from former colonial power and traditional security ally France as it has strengthened ties with Russia.

The US pullout has already begun, the Pentagon and Nigerien defence officials confirmed in a joint statement on Sunday, with all of the troops set to vacate the country by September 15 “at the latest”.

Until a coup last year, Niger had been a key partner of the West and involved in Washington’s fight against armed groups in the Sahel.

The new agreement between Niger’s defence ministry and the US Department of Defense, reached after a five-day meeting, guarantees the protection of US troops until their withdrawal, the joint statement said.