US military hands over major drone base in Niger

Pentagon passes control of Air Base 201 in Agadez to Nigerien forces

American soldiers prepare military vehicles to be loaded on to a cargo plane in Niamey as US troops begin to leave Niger in June. AFP

The US military has handed over its last air base in Niger, effectively ending an important counter-terrorism partnership in West Africa, the Department of Defence confirmed on Monday.

“The effective co-operation and communication between the US and Nigerien armed forces ensured that this turnover was finished ahead of schedule and without complications,” the Pentagon said in a joint statement with the Nigeria Ministry of National Defence.

The US had invested heavily in Niger, using it as a base to combat extremism in West Africa.

Washington spent $110 billion on Airbase 201, which served as a location for drone operations.

Relations between the US and Niger deteriorated following a coup in July last year, in which the military overthrew the democratically elected President, Mohamed Bazoum.

The US avoided describing the events in Niger as a coup until October.

The US recently withdrew the majority of the 1,000 troops that were stationed in the country and earlier this month handed over Air Base 101 in the capital Niamey to Nigerien forces.

In March, Niger ended the relationship the previous government had established with the US, which had allowed Washington to maintain a military presence in the country.

The decision followed a meeting during which senior US officials raised concerns about issues such as the expected arrival of Russian forces and reports of Iran seeking raw materials in the country.

Thousands of protesters demonstrated in Niamey in April to demand an end to the American military presence in the country

September 15 has been set as the deadline to withdraw all US military personnel from the country.

The withdrawal follows that of French troops, who left in October after a request from the junta.

Russian military trainers arrived in Niger in April.