A US official confirmed to CBS News on Friday (Apr. 19) that the United States has agreed to withdraw its forces from Niger following a recent coup that toppled its democratically-elected president Mohamed Bazoum.
In a statement, the official, who was unnamed by the network, said that Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Nigerian Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine "committed today to initiate conversations in Niamey to begin planning an orderly and responsible withdrawal of U.S troops from Niger."
The statement added that the two officials "affirmed the importance of the bilateral relationship and agreed to pursue collaboration in areas of joint interest."
Currently, there are about 1,000 US military personnel in the West African nation.
Prior to the coup, Niger has played a central role in the US military's operations in Africa's Sahel region, and officials in Washington are concerned about the spread of jihadist violence where local groups have pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda and Islamic State groups.
It was reported last month that Nigerien junta officials have decided to cut their "profoundly unfair" military ties with the US.
Niger has been home to a major US airbase in the city of Agadez, some 550 miles (885 kilometers) from the capital Niamey, using it for manned and unmanned surveillance flights and other operations. The US has also invested hundreds of millions of dollars in training Niger's military since it began operations there in 2013.
The relations between the two countries deteriorated after mutinous Nigerien soldiers toppled Bazoum last July. Niger's junta has since told French forces to leave and turned instead to Russia for security.
Earlier this month, Russian military trainers arrived to reinforce the country's air defenses and with Russian equipment to train Nigeriens to use. This followed a visit last February by Kremlin officials after taking over the assets of the Wagner Group after the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Niger has also since left the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) after they were sanctioned for the coup.
