The United States is relocating some of its troops from a base in Niger Republic’s capital, Niamey, to the Agadez area, according to the Pentagon.
The troops’ movement comes as Burkina Faso, Niger’s south west neighbours and one of the staunchest supporters of the putschists, deploys units of its military in the country, apparently in reaction to the threat by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to restore democracy there.
Washington has some 1,100 military personnel in Niger, but the defence department said they have largely remained on bases while curtailing activities such as joint training after the July military takeover.
The United States “is repositioning some of our personnel and some of our assets from Air Base 101 in Niamey to Air Base 201 in Agadez”, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told journalists.
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“There’s no immediate threat to US personnel or violence on the ground,” she said, describing the move as a “precautionary measure”.
A “small group” of personnel will remain at Air Base 101 following the move, which is currently ongoing, Singh said.
She also said “some non-essential personnel and contractors” had previously departed the country.
Niger has been a key base for both American and French anti-jihadist operations, and the repositioning of US troops comes after a French defence ministry source said Paris was holding talks with Niger on withdrawing “elements” of its presence there.
Burkina Faso military units arrive in coup-hit Niger
Sky News reported yesterday that several military units from Burkina Faso had arrived in Niger.
It did not specify the number of soldiers.
On August 31, the Burkina-Faso government approved the bill on sending the country’s military contingent to Niger to prevent terrorism.
It had earlier sent Super Tucano jets to Niamey to assist it in the event of any military intervention by the ECOWAS.