 Ekman, the director for strategy at U.S. Africa Command, is leading our military withdrawal from the small base at the airport in Niger's capital of Niamey and from the larger counterterrorism base in the city of Agadez. Under the Junta agreement, two-thirds of our troops and equipment must be out of the country by July 26. That deadline, which forced us to move quickly, is a key reason why U.S. Africa Command will complete its withdrawal of all 1,000 troops from Niger early.