 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. But it also leaves a counterterrorism gap that our officials are struggling to fill as security threats from extremist groups in the Sahel grow.