Germany withdraws all military forces from Niger
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Germany has ended its military presence in Niger after an agreement brokered in May matured.
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Illustrative: French Barkhane Air Force mechanics maintain a Mirage 2000 on the Niamey, Niger base, on June 5, 2021. (AP)
Germany has completed its full withdrawal from Niger after evacuating its airbase and flew its last troops back to Berlin on Friday.
A provisional agreement was reached in May allowing Germany to continue operating its airbase in Niamey until the end of August. Negotiations to extend the agreement, thus Germany's presence in Niger, then broke down when German troops and personnel operating the airbase no longer received immunity from prosecution.
Nigerien and German officials announced Germany's withdrawal from Niamey in a joint statement, "This withdrawal does not mark the end of military cooperation between Niger and Germany, in fact the two sides are committed to maintaining military relations."
Five cargo planes carried 60 German troops and 146 tonnes of equipment to Wunsdorf airbase earlier, as Germany's State Secretary for Defense, Nils Hilmer, met the arrivals landing in Germany.
Niger distances itself from West
Similarly, the US military withdrew its forces from its final base in Niger, the Pentagon confirmed earlier in August.
In a joint statement with Niger's Defense Ministry, the Pentagon announced that "the withdrawal of U.S. forces and assets from Air Base 201 in Agadez is complete."
According to the statement, "This effort began on May 19 following the mutual establishment of withdrawal conditions and coordination will continue between U.S. and Nigerien armed forces over the coming weeks to ensure the full withdrawal is complete as planned."
In December last year, a letter from the Nigerien Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the diplomatic representatives of countries that maintain military bases in Niamey, said that the Nigerien government is set to announce plans to reassess military agreements previously signed with Western countries.
According to the letter, this decision is a manifestation of their dedication to "safeguard" and protect the interests of the West African nation "in accordance with the demands of the Nigerien people."
