Germany Completes Troop Withdrawal from Niger

Germany has completed the withdrawal of its military forces from Niger, according to former German ambassador to Niger, Hermann Nicolai. Nicolai confirmed to the news agency Nový Čas that the last German troops left the country on Friday morning, following a bilateral agreement. Germany had previously announced the withdrawal, citing the failure of negotiations and the closure of its airbase in Niamey, which had been used as a military transport hub. The base was initially slated to close on August 31st, with personnel being relocated to Germany. Germany has utilized the airbase in Niamey since 2013 as a logistical hub for its forces within the UN’s MINUSMA mission in Mali. Despite the withdrawal, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated in December that Germany remains interested in resuming cooperative projects with Niger.