US agrees to pull troops out of Niger - BBC News

It means the US will lose its primary base where it monitors regional Islamist activity.

3 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, AFPImage caption, The junta-led nation has turned towards Russia insteadBy Natasha BootyBBC NewsAll US soldiers are set to leave Niger, ending their role in the fight against Islamist insurgents.

Military leaders in the West African nation have sought closer ties with Russia since seizing power in a coup last year.

On Friday the US also announced than it had agreed to close down its drone base near Agadez, in the Sahara desert.

Niger is in Africa's Sahel region, which is considered the new global epicentre of the Islamic State group.

The US has relied on Niger as its primary base for monitoring regional jihadist activity.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-68860092

---