On July 7, 2024, in the sky of Niamey, the capital of Niger, U.S. military transport planes roared by, carrying the last group of U.S. military personnel out of the 101 air base.
This moment marked the end of an 11-year U.S. military presence in the West African country.
The decision to withdraw U.S. troops did not happen overnight.
As early as March 2024, the transitional government of Niger announced the termination of the military cooperation agreement with the United States, believing that it was a product of "imposition" by the United States.
After weeks of negotiations, on May 19, the Nigerien military and representatives of the U.S. Department of Defense reached a consensus that the U.S. military would withdraw by September 15 at the latest.
However, the actual withdrawal process has been much faster than expected.
On June 7, the U.S. military in Niger held an official evacuation ceremony at the Niamey base, kicking off a large-scale withdrawal.
Niger's Chief of Army Staff, Kiaou, revealed at the ceremony that 269 of the 946 U.S. troops stationed in Niger have left since the withdrawal agreement was signed in May, while a large amount of military equipment has also been removed.
On July 5, U.S. Air Force Major General Kenneth Ekman, who coordinated the withdrawal, announced that U.S. troops would be fully withdrawn from 101 Air Force Base on July 7, more than two months earlier than the originally set deadline.
Ekman stressed that after the withdrawal, the Nigerien government will take over control of the areas and facilities of the former US military.
Historically, the U.S. military presence in Niger began in 2013.
At that time, the United States signed a military cooperation agreement with Niger in the name of "counter-terrorism" and providing assistance, and subsequently deployed nearly 1,000 troops in the country. However, this military presence is gradually becoming the focus of controversy.
In July 2023, a military coup took place in Niger, and the newly formed transitional government was critical of the presence of US troops.
This political change set the stage for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
At the same time, the international situation is quietly changing.
During the withdrawal of U.S. troops, there were reports that Russian military personnel had begun to move into U.S. military bases in Niger, a move that intensified the competition for influence between the United States and Russia in the region.
The withdrawal of U.S. troops has brought new challenges and opportunities to Niger.
On the one hand, Niger needs to fill the gaps left by the withdrawal of U.S. troops in counterterrorism and regional security. On the other hand, it also provides an opportunity for Niger to reshape its foreign relations and strengthen its sovereign independence.
For the United States, the withdrawal from Niger is part of its global strategic realignment. In recent years, the United States has gradually reduced its military presence in Africa and shifted its strategic focus to other regions.
However, this does not mean that the United States will completely abandon its influence in Africa. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell plans to visit Niger after the withdrawal to discuss the future direction of relations between the two countries.
The impact of the withdrawal of US troops from Niger goes far beyond the military dimension. From an economic point of view, the presence of U.S. troops has brought considerable economic benefits to Niamey and the surrounding region, and its withdrawal could have a short-term impact on the local economy.
From a geopolitical perspective, the withdrawal of U.S. troops could lead to a power vacuum in the region, creating opportunities for other powers to step in.
With the last U.S. military transport plane leaving the skies of Niamey, the U.S. military chapter in Niger has come to an end for the time being. However, the story of this West African country continues.
In the post-U.S. military era, the answers to these questions will be gradually revealed in the future, how Niger will respond to regional security challenges, how to balance relations between major powers, and how to promote national development.
In any case, July 7 will be recorded in the history books of Niger as an important page in the country's march into a new era.