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Germany is to surrender control of its airbase in Niger after failing to reach agreement with the Nigerien authorities on legal immunity for its military personnel, the Defence Ministry informed parliament in Berlin on Saturday. The airbase in Niamey, a key asset in Western efforts to contain terrorism in the region, is to close on August 31, by when all the troops stationed there will have returned to Germany. According to the Defence Ministry’s note to parliament, which has been seen by dpa, the government has “reassessed” changes in the situation over recent weeks and taken the decision to …

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