The United States is set to withdraw its forces and equipment from a small base in Niger this weekend, with fewer than 500 remaining troops scheduled to leave a key drone base in the West African nation by August.

This move comes ahead of a September 15 deadline agreed upon with the new junta, as announced by the American commander in the region on Friday.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman revealed in an interview that small teams of 10-20 US troops, including special operations forces, have already been relocated to other countries within West Africa.

However, the majority of the forces will initially be redeployed to Europe.

Niger’s decision to expel American troops following a coup last year has significant implications for the US, as it necessitates abandoning a critical drone base used for counterterrorism missions in the Sahel region.

Despite the setback, Ekman and other US military leaders have indicated that other West African nations are interested in collaborating with the US and may be open to an increased American presence.

While specific locations were not disclosed, US officials have previously mentioned the Ivory Coast and Ghana as potential partners.

Maj. Gen. Ekman, who serves as the director for strategy at US Africa Command, is overseeing the withdrawal of US military personnel from the small base at the airport in Niger’s capital, Niamey, as well as from a larger counterterrorism base in Agadez.

He mentioned that a ceremony on Sunday will mark the completion of the pullout from the airport base, with the final 100 troops and the last C-17 transport aircraft set to depart shortly thereafter.

Speaking from the US embassy in Niamey, Ekman noted that while some portable buildings and vehicles deemed no longer useful will be left behind, a significant amount of larger equipment will be removed.

Notably, 18 generators weighing 4,000 pounds (1,800 kilograms) each, valued at over $1 million each, will be taken out of Agadez.

US’ Orderly Withdrawal

In contrast to the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, Ekman emphasized that the US is not destroying equipment or facilities as it exits Niger. “Our goal in the execution is to leave things in as good a state as possible,” he stated.

“If we went out and left it a wreck or we went out spitefully, or if we destroyed things as we went, we’d be foreclosing options” for future security relations.

The order for US forces to leave Niger was issued by the junta following the ousting of the country’s democratically elected president by mutinous soldiers last July.

French forces have also been asked to depart as the junta seeks security assistance from the Russian mercenary group Wagner.

Washington officially designated the military takeover as a coup in October, triggering US laws that restrict military support and aid to Niger.

In early June, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov embarked on a diplomatic tour of Guinea, the Republic of the Congo, and Burkina Faso, marking his sixth official visit to Africa since 2022.

This initiative is part of Russia’s intensified charm offensive on the continent. Amid Moscow’s increasing presence, African nations face the challenge of navigating the geopolitical tug-of-war between Russia and the West.

The conflict in Ukraine has exacerbated this rivalry, with several European countries recently accusing Russia of orchestrating a sabotage campaign within the European Union (EU).

Although the Kremlin denies that its African engagements are driven by competition with the West, visits by Russian officials frequently feature anti-Western rhetoric.

The significance of Africa in Russian foreign policy has risen noticeably due to the Russo-Ukrainian war. While Russia’s 2016 Foreign Policy Concept barely mentioned the continent, the 2023 version now recognizes Africa as a “distinctive and influential center of world development.”

This withdrawal underscores the shifting dynamics in West Africa and highlights the challenges the US faces in maintaining its counterterrorism efforts in the region amidst political instability and changing alliances.