2024 is the end of the ten year lease after expending $110 million to build and $30 million a year to maintain the base.
The French forces were booted in October 2023.
American troops are leaving now and the German troops will leave in September. The military regimes of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso marked their divorce from the rest of West Africa 10 July 2024 as they signed a treaty setting up a confederation between them and all pulled out of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) this year. Indeed, ECOWAS might not survive the Nigerien debacle in its current 15-member format if it stays the course.
Meanwhile, the military power nexus of Russia in Africa is on the march:
Russia has concluded military cooperation agreements with 43 African countries, and is a major, though declining, arms supplier to Africa. This cooperation is not linked to democratic pledges, and in multiple African countries hit by coups, Russia has continued or strengthened its military cooperation.
The Russian military will be the single largest non-African force influence in Africa after that departure.
The US is removing all its forces and equipment from Niger ahead of a September 15 deadline set under an agreement with the ruling junta.
US forces will be removed from a small base this weekend, while around 500 remaining troops will leave a critical drone base in the West African country in August.
The drone base, known as Nigerien Air Base 201, is located near the city of Agadez and was built at a cost of $110 million.
The US had around 1,100 troops in Niger.
https://trtafrika.com/africa/us-troops-finish-exit-from-nigers-capital-18181377
Email me at cgpodcast@pm.me.
