The United States began “as a precaution” to reposition its troops in Niger, the scene of a coup in late July, the Pentagon announced on Thursday, September 07, 2023.
The Department of Defense is “repositioning some of its personnel and assets from Air Base 101 in Niamey (the capital, ed.) to Air Base 201 in Agadez”, further north, a spokesman, Sabrina Singh, told the press.
“There is no immediate threat to our staff or violence on the ground,” she added, calling the decision a “precautionary measure”. Singh also said that “some non-essential staff and subcontractors” had left the country several weeks ago.
Soldiers toppled the President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, on 26 July and placed him and his family under house arrest at the presidential palace. The United States has some 1,100 soldiers stationed in Niger, operating against active jihadist groups.
