The military junta in Niger has ordered U.S. troops to leave the country in a major setback to U.S. military operations in Africa. Six years ago, the U.S. built a $110 million drone base in northern Niger. The U.S. currently has about 1,000 troops in the West African nation. The announcement comes months after France was forced to pull its troops from Niger, as well. Colonel Amadou Abdramane spoke on Saturday.

Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane: “On cooperation between the two countries, in particular military cooperation and the fight against terrorists, the U.S. presence on the territory of the Republic of Niger is illegal and violates all the constitutional and democratic rules which would require the sovereign people, in particular through its elected representatives, to be consulted on the installation of a foreign army on its territory.”