US agrees to pull troops out of Niger

Military leaders in the West African nation have sought closer ties with Russia since seizing power in a coup last year.

Niger is in Africa’s Sahel region, which is considered the new global epicentre of the Islamic State group.

The US has relied on Niger as its primary base for monitoring regional jihadist activity.

The US’s $100m (£80m) military base there was built just six years ago, and has played a key role in the US and French strategy to combat jihadists in West Africa.

But Niger’s relations soured with both Western countries last year following the coup and the military leaders have sought closer security ties with Russia.

Niger has also distanced itself from local democracies and sought stronger regional alliances with fellow junta-led nations Burkina Faso and Mali.

The trio have quit ECOWAD – the West African regional body which opposed their military takeovers.