(5 Aug 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Agadez, Niger – 5 August 2024
1. The U.S. ambassador to Niger, Kathleen FitzGibbon visiting the Agadez camp with Nigerien and American soldiers
2. Various of Nigerien and US soldiers
3. General Ken Ekman, Director of Strategic Studies for AFRICOM, representing the US side and Col. Major Maman Sani Kiaou, representing Niger side signing a document of the camp handover
4. SOUNDBITE (French) Col. Major Maman Sani Kiaou, Chief of Staff of the Niger Army:
“This withdrawal does not mean the end of military cooperation between the two countries (Niger and the US), in fact, both parties are now committed to maintaining contact and working together to define the foundations of a new military cooperation.”
5. Various of soldiers Niger and US soldiers
6. US military personnel
7. Ekman and Sani Kiou finish signing document
8. SOUNDBITE (English) General Ken Ekman, Director of Strategic Studies for AFRICOM:
“Over the past decade, U.S. troops have trained Niger’s forces and supported partner-led counterterrorism missions against Islamic State and al-Qaida in the region.”
9. American soldier speaking to officials and top brass of the Niger and US armies
10. Pan of material left by US troops to Niger’s army
11. SOUNDBITE (English) General Ken Ekman, Director of Strategic Studies for AFRICOM:
“The U.S. Department of Defense and the Nigerien Ministry of National Defence recognize the sacrifices made by both nations’ forces.”
12. US soldiers stepping onto plane
13. Military aircraft taxiing
STORYLINE:
The U.S. handed over its last military base in Niger — one of two crucial hubs for American counterterrorism operations in the country — to local authorities, the U.S. Department of Defense and Niger’s Ministry of Defense announced in a joint statement on Monday.
The handing over of Airbase 201 in the city of Agadez came after the U.S. troops withdrew last month from Airbase 101, a small drone base in Niger’s capital of Niamey.
U.S. troops have until Sept. 15 to leave the Sahel country following an agreement with Nigerien authorities.
There are about two dozen American soldiers who remain in Niger, largely for administrative duties related to the withdrawal, according to Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon spokeswoman. They are located at the U.S. embassy.
In March, Niger’s ruling junta ended an agreement that allowed U.S. troops to operate in the West African country. A few months later, officials of the two countries announced in a joint statement that U.S. troops would complete their withdrawal by the middle of September.
Niger had been seen as one of the last nations in the restive region that Western nations could partner with to beat back growing jihadi insurgencies. The U.S. and France had more than 2,500 military personnel in the region until recently, and together with other European countries had invested hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance and training.
In recent months Niger has pulled away from its Western partners, turning instead to Russia for security.
In April, Russian military trainers arrived in Niger to reinforce the country’s air defenses.
Niger’s ouster of American troops following a coup last year has broad ramifications for the U.S. because it is forcing troops to abandon the critical base that was used for counterterrorism missions in the Sahel, a vast region south of the Sahara desert where groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group operate.
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