A US delegation is discussing the withdrawal of its troops from military-led Niger as Washington prepares to abandon its strategic position in the Sahel where Russia and Iran are gaining ground.
The demand for US troops to exit comes after French troops were also forced to withdraw last year by Niger’s new ruling generals following a July coup.
Niger announced in March it was ending a military cooperation agreement with Washington, claiming the presence of US soldiers was now “illegal”.
The country has been a key base for counter-terrorism operations in West Africa, with a major US drone base near the northern city of Agadez that cost a reported $100 million to build.
