This would be the first significant movement of U.S. troops out of Niger since a military junta seized power in late July.
The overall number of troops in Niger could drop from 1,200 before the July 26 coup to somewhere “right in the middle” of 500 to 1,000 in the next few weeks. | Carley Petesch/AP PhotoThe U.S. military is preparing to cut its presence in Niger nearly in half in the next few weeks, as troops move out of the capital of Niamey amid widespread protests, according to two Defense Department officials with direct knowledge of the move.
Any major reduction in U.S. military presence in Niger would be a blow to the counterterrorism fight in the Sahel. The French military, which also has a major presence in Niger, isThe DOD officials cautioned that no final decision has been made on the exact number of U.S. troops that remain in Niger after the repositioning. That figure depends on how many can be accommodated at Agadez and how many Pentagon leaders decide are needed to continue the counterterrorism mission, said the officials.
The situation in Niger is relatively stable and there is no specific threat to U.S. troops, Singh said. The U.S. military will still maintain a “small” presence at the airport in Niamey, while most of the troops will move to Agadez, she said.
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