Germany Ends Eight-Year Military Mission in Niger

Germany has officially completed its withdrawal of military forces from Niger, ending an eight-year deployment that included a key airbase in Niamey. The last 60 troops returned to Germany following the failure to secure legal immunity with the Nigerien government, which has been under military control since a coup in July 2023. The Niamey airbase served as a crucial logistics hub for international peacekeeping efforts against terrorism in the Sahel region. With the withdrawal, Germany no longer has a military presence in the Sahel, as neighboring countries shift their alliances towards Russia. Despite this, German and Nigerien officials expressed a commitment to maintaining military relations in the future. The withdrawal reflects a broader trend of Western military forces being replaced by Russian influence in the region.