US to relocate some troops from Niger's capital

(Patria) - The United States is relocating some of its troops from a base in Niger's capital Niamey, where rebel officers seized power in a July coup, to another base in the Agadez region, the Pentagon announced on Thursday.

The Department of Defense is "relocating a portion of our personnel and some of our assets from Air Base 101 in Niamey to Air Base 201 in Agadez," Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters, AFP reported.

"There is no immediate threat to U.S. personnel or violence on the ground," she said, describing the move as a "precautionary measure." Singh also said that "some non-essential personnel and contractors" had left the country weeks ago.

Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown on July 26 by members of his guard and detained along with his family.