The United States military declared on Monday that it had finalized the withdrawal of its troops and equipment from Niger, successfully adhering to the 15th of September deadline.

This exit was executed in gradual stages, commencing back in May, after Niger’s newly established leadership annulled a longstanding military partnership agreement with Washington.

The current administration, having seized power through a coup last year, has distanced itself from its traditional Western allies, opting to align itself with Russia for security support.

The withdrawal of close to 1,000 American military personnel marks a significant blow to Washington’s influence in the region.

Before the coup, Niger stood as a pivotal ally in the U.S.’s ongoing fight against Islamist insurgents entrenched in the area.

Alongside France and other European nations, the United States had poured hundreds of millions of dollars into military aid and training for Niger.

While Washington handed over its last military outposts to Nigerien authorities last month, approximately two dozen soldiers remained, primarily tasked with overseeing the final stages of the withdrawal.

This departure occurs amid growing trepidation over the increasing presence of extremist factions within the West African expanse.

Militant groups, affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, are known to operate within the vast territories south of the Sahara.

Among these, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) is notably active in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, with ambitions to extend its influence into Benin and Togo.