The United States has officially transferred its last military base in Niger to local authorities, marking the end of a significant presence in the country. The handover of Airbase 201 in Agadez comes after the U.S. withdrawal from Airbase 101 in Niamey earlier this month.

This transfer follows an agreement with Nigerien authorities that requires all U.S. troops to leave the country by September 15. Currently, a small contingent of about two dozen American soldiers remains in Niger, primarily for administrative duties related to the withdrawal, and are stationed at the U.S. embassy.

The U.S. military presence in Niger was significantly impacted in March when the ruling junta terminated the agreement that allowed U.S. troops to operate in the country. Subsequent negotiations led to the announcement of a full withdrawal by mid-September.

Niger’s decision to sever ties with Western military partners has broad implications for U.S. counterterrorism operations in the Sahel region. The base in Agadez was a critical hub for U.S. counterterrorism efforts against groups like JNIM, which operates in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, and seeks to expand its influence into Benin and Togo.

In recent months, Niger has shifted its security priorities away from its Western allies, seeking closer ties with Russia. Russian military trainers arrived in Niger in April to bolster the country’s air defenses.