Niger and the United States announced on Sunday evening the completion of the withdrawal of US troops from the Niamey base in Niger, to be followed on 15 September by the withdrawal of US troops stationed in Agadez in the north, in response to demands by the ruling military regime.

The two countries’ authorities said in a joint statement: “The Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Niger and the Department of Defence of the United States of America announce that the withdrawal of US forces and equipment from the 101st Airbase in Niamey has been completed.”

In March, Niger withdrew from a 2012 military cooperation agreement with the US.