Completion of German troop withdrawal from Niamey, Niger's capital
Sources suggest that German military personnel are set to touch down at Wunstorf's airbase on a Friday night. Spiegel report was the first to break this news, though the Defense Ministry of Germany initially stayed tight-lipped about it. As per Kiaou's statement, five cargo planes carried away 60 soldiers and 146 metric tons of gear.
Initially, Germany and Niger had agreed on an interim arrangement for the Niamey support base, but it was due to end on August 31.
However, the revised proposal from the Niger government for a new contract fell short of expectations in Berlin. A major point of contention was the removal of the immunity from prosecution for soldiers stationed there.
Contrary to the Defense Ministry's early July announcement ending military ties with Niger, Kiaou asserted that both sides are determined to preserve their military relations. Nevertheless, the military overthrow of the democratic President Mohamed Bazoum in July of the previous year by Niger's military has led the governments of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to drift away from the West and towards Russia.
Germany's military presence in Mali came to an end last year. The loss of the base in Niger adds to Germany's challenges in maintaining a footing in the economically struggling and unstable Sahel region.
The departure of the German military personnel from the airbase in Wunstorf marked the start of their journey to Niamey's support base, which had initially been agreed upon but was due for closure on August 31. Despite the revised proposal from the Niger government, Germany aimed to preserve its military relations with Niger, as the loss of the base in Niger increases Germany's challenges in maintaining a footing in the Sahel region.
