US: Withdrawal from Niger completed

KABUL (Pajhwok): The United States has completed the withdrawal of its military forces and assets from Niger, the Department of Defense announced late on Monday.

VOA quoted a US defence official as saying: “The effort formally began on May 19, when US and Niger leaders agreed on a phased withdrawal of American forces from Niger after being in the country for more than a decade.”

The report said American forces were stationed at two air bases in Niger and left that country at the request of Niger's coup leaders.

“The effective cooperation and communication between the US and Niger armed forces ensured that this turnover was finished ahead of schedule and without complications,” the US and Nigerian militaries said in a joint statement.

Niger is one of the unstable countries in Africa. More than 2,500 American and French troops were stationed in the country.

The US and France, along with European states, have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in military and educational in aid to the country.

kk/mud