The United States has set plans in motion to withdraw its troops from Niger Republic, CBS News reports.
A state department official told the US news outlet that Kurt Campbell, deputy secretary of state, and Ali Lamine Zeine, Niger’s prime minister, had a meeting Friday “to initiate conversations in Niamey to begin planning an orderly and responsible withdrawal of U.S troops from Niger”.
The two officials “affirmed the importance of the bilateral relationship and agreed to pursue collaboration in areas of joint interest,” the statement reads.
The US also announced that it had agreed to close down its drone base near Agadez, some 550 miles from the capital Niamey.
The development comes a month after the Nigerien junta revoked an accord with the US government which allowed American troops to operate on two of its bases.
Around 1,000 US military personnel are said to be based in Niger.
The $100m military base in the landlocked country was built six years ago and has played a key role in the US/France strategy to combat jihadists in West Africa.
However, Niger’s relationships with both Western countries turned sour last year following the coup and the West African country’s alliance with Russia.
Last week, Russian military instructors arrived in Niger to train the West African nation’s army with the latest military equipment and to help install an air defence system.
An American delegation is expected to soon head to Niamey to arrange an orderly withdrawal of its troops.
