Germany Completes Withdrawing Troops from Niger

Germany has finalized its military withdrawal from Niger, with German soldiers departing from the capital, Niamey, on a plane following a ceremony marking the end of their mission at a local airbase.

The departure of the last German troops comes after unsuccessful negotiations between the Nigerien military council and Germany regarding an extension of the German military presence.

This withdrawal follows the French troop exit at the end of 2023 and anticipates the departure of US forces by September 15, 2024.

According to Niger's Chief of Staff Mamane Sani Kiaou, "Five cargo planes transported 60 German soldiers and 146 tons of equipment." The German soldiers left the Niamey military base immediately after the official farewell ceremony.

Kiaou emphasized that "this withdrawal is a direct result of the inability of both parties to agree on extending the German forces' presence, but it does not signify the end of military cooperation between our countries."

Germany had announced on July 6 that it would cease using its airbase in Niger, planning to withdraw its troops by August 31, 2024.

The German military base, valued at approximately 130 million euros, was utilized for eight years to train and equip Nigerien special forces as part of ongoing security coordination and cooperation between the two nations.