The decision has been made by the U.S. to pull out its troops from the West African nation of Niger, according to an official confirmation received by CBS News on Friday.
An official from the state department informed CBS News that Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Nigerian Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine, in a meeting on Friday, agreed to "initiate conversations in Niamey to begin planning an orderly and responsible withdrawal of U.S troops from Niger."
The statement also mentioned that the two officials "reinforced the significance of the bilateral relationship and committed to pursuing cooperation in areas of mutual interest."
Currently, there are around 1,000 U.S. military personnel stationed in Niger.
Niger has been a key player in the U.S. military's activities in Africa's Sahel region. The U.S. has been monitoring the rise of jihadist violence in the region, where local factions have declared allegiance to al-Qaida and the Islamic State groups.
With a major U.S. airbase located in Agadez, approximately 550 miles away from the capital Niamey, the U.S. has utilized Niger for various surveillance and operational purposes, including manned and unmanned flights. Since the commencement of operations in 2013, the U.S. has also heavily invested in training Niger's armed forces, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars.
Following the ousting of Niger's democratically elected president by mutinous soldiers last July, relations between Niger and Western countries have deteriorated. The junta in Niger has expelled French forces and turned to Russia for security assistance. Recently, Russian military trainers have arrived in Niger to bolster the country's air defenses and provide training on Russian equipment to Nigerien forces.
In response to the military takeover being designated as a coup by the United States in October, there have been restrictions placed on military support and aid to Niger. In an effort to address these concerns, a U.S. delegation visited Niger in March to engage in discussions at senior levels and explore the possibility of reaching an agreement that satisfies both parties, as reported by a State Department official to the AP.
