{"id":78167,"date":"2023-09-08T20:26:26","date_gmt":"2023-09-08T20:26:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/09\/08\/us-moves-troops-and-equipment-within-niger-as-precautionary-measure\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T15:41:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:41:07","slug":"us-moves-troops-and-equipment-within-niger-as-precautionary-measure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2023\/09\/08\/us-moves-troops-and-equipment-within-niger-as-precautionary-measure\/","title":{"rendered":"US moves troops and equipment within Niger as \u2018precautionary measure\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Department of Defense said it is repositioning some troops and equipment within Niger \u201cout of an abundance of caution\u201d following a military coup in July that overthrew<\/a> the West African country\u2019s democratically elected government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are hopeful that diplomatic talks will continue and that the situation in Niger will be resolved diplomatically,\u201d Sabrina Singh, the Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary, said Thursday at a press briefing. \u201cThis is simply a precautionary measure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The move of personnel and assets from Air Base 101 in Niamey, Niger\u2019s capital, to Air Base 201 in Agadez, a facility in the central part of the country, is \u201congoing,\u201d said Singh, adding that there will be a small group that remains in Niamey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Niger has played a critical role for the U.S. counterterrorism mission in the region, where extremist groups have been flocking<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The repositioning comes as Russian-backed Wagner forces have looked to possibly make Niger the next African country where they ascend to power. Niger\u2019s junta previously asked for help<\/a> from the Russian mercenary group in the face of a possible military intervention by the West African regional bloc, the Associated Press reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\t