 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. But it also leaves a counterterrorism gap that our officials are struggling to fill as security threats from extremist groups in the Sahel grow. This is bad news. Worst news is that Russia will be moving in.