Germany says it has completed the withdrawal of its Bunderswher troop from the restive junta-run Niger Republic on Friday, August 30, 2024.
Senior German and Nigerien military officials separately read out a joint statement announcing the completion of the withdrawal.
According to them, 60 German troops and 146 tonnes of equipment have been repatriated on five cargo planes.
Back in May, Germany and Niger reached an interim agreement allowing German military continue operating its airbase in the capital, Niamey until the end of August.
However, negotiations to extend the agreement broke mainly because the base could no longer benefit benefit immunity from prosecution.
Before now, only 38 Bundeswehr soldiers were stationed at the base in recent times, along with 33 staff from German and foreign companies.
The breakdown in negotiations marks Niger’s latest diplomatic shift away from the West since a coup d’etat in July 2023 ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and brought the current military leadership to power.
Since then, Niger junta has rejected other western allies such as France and the United States, turning towards Russia and Iran.
