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NIAMEY, July 9 (Xinhua) — The Niger Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense announced on the 9th that the first phase of the withdrawal of U.S. troops and equipment from Niger territory has been completed.
The announcement was made at a signing ceremony for the transfer of U.S. authority to the Nigerien military at the 101st Air Force Base in Niamey, the capital of Niger, in the presence of U.S. Ambassador Catherine Fitzgibbon and other civilian and military personnel from both countries.
Col. Mamane Sani Kio, Niger’s army chief of staff, said the agreement calls for the withdrawal of all U.S. military assets in Niger “by September 15,” “including those in Niamey, Agadez, Ouaram and Diffa.”
After withdrawing troops and equipment from Air Base 101, the United States will focus on withdrawing from Air Base 201 in the city of Agadez. “Nigerien and U.S. officials will work to ensure a safe, orderly and responsible withdrawal,” he added.
The US military has announced that it will officially withdraw from the African country on September 15.
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