The German armed forces have ended an eight-year deployment to Niger after surrendering control of a key airbase in the West African country. A military plane carrying the remaining 60 German troops stationed at the base in the capital Niamey landed in Germany on Friday evening. A second A400M transport aircraft carrying equipment was also on its way back. The airbase in the outskirts of Niamey was staffed by up to 120 German military personnel and had been considered a key asset in Western efforts to contain terrorism in the region. After failing to reach agreement with Nigerien authorities o…