by Daphne Psaledakis
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States will withdraw its troops from Niger, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters late on Friday, adding that an agreement had been reached between U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, and the junta in power in Niger.
Niger’s ruling military junta last month ended a military agreement authorizing the presence of military and civilian personnel from the US Department of Defense on its territory.
Until the coup in July 2023, Niger was a key security partner in the region for France and the United States.
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But the new authorities of Niger have decided, like the juntas of neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, to end military agreements with their former Western allies and to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). and foster closer ties with Russia.
The source, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Reuters that discussions would be held in the coming days to establish the terms of the withdrawal of American soldiers.
The United States and Niger will nevertheless maintain diplomatic and economic relations, the source said.
Some 1,000 American troops were deployed in Niger last year.
(With contribution from Jasper Ward, written by Kanishka Singh; French version Camille Raynaud)
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