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BERLIN — German troops evacuated an air base in junta-controlled Niger on Friday and sent the last of its troops home, completing a withdrawal from the restive Sahel country.
At the end of May, Germany and Niger reached a temporary agreement allowing the German military to continue operating its air base in the capital Niamey until the end of August.
But talks to extend the agreement broke down, particularly because personnel at the base would no longer enjoy immunity from prosecution.
Senior German and Nigerien military officials read out a joint statement announcing the completion of the withdrawal.
“The withdrawal does not mean the end of Niger’s military cooperation with Germany, and in fact both sides are committed to maintaining military relations,” they said.
At around 6:30 pm local time (16:30 GMT), five cargo planes carrying 60 German troops and 146 tons of equipment landed at Winsdorf Air Base, where they were greeted by German Defense Ministry State Secretary Nils Hillmer.
Germany has operated the base in Niger since February 2016, which once housed around 3,200 personnel.
Niger has been ruled by a military junta since a coup in July 2023 overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been imprisoned since then.
The regime has turned its back on Western allies such as France and the United States in favor of Russia and Iran.
Similar shifts have occurred in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, which are also ruled by military leaders and face violent threats from jihadist groups.
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