U.S. Troop Withdrawals from Niger and Chad: Implications for West African Security

Strategically Changing West Africa

Arriving in Botswana on Monday, General CQ Brown, the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, found himself in a key point for U.S. military strategy in Africa. Military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger that have toppled democratic governments are causing a change in the area as they review their connections to the United States and progressively turn to mercenaries connected to Russia for security aid.

There are hints that other West African countries would be receptive to an increased American military presence as the U.S. withdraw its 1,000 troops from Niger, notably from a vital counterterrorism and drone station. General Brown stressed the need of the conference for grasping the goals and issues of his African colleagues.

“There are other nations in the region where we already have either a minor presence or have relationships,” Brown pointed out. “Part of this is looking at how we keep developing on those relationships which may present chances for us to posture some of the capabilities we had in Niger in some of those locations.”

Changing to Local Fix for Problems

The meeting is a great chance for the United States to show its readiness to pay attention to local solutions and change with the times instead of imposing Western ideas. Speaking under anonymity, a defense official underlined that the Botswana conference seeks to strengthen military ties all throughout the continent.

The troop withdrawals generate questions about how to handle the rising violence from extremist organizations, particularly those connected to Al-Qaida and the Islamic State. The advent of extreme activity into coastal West Africa worries the United States especially.

Effect of American Troop Withdrawal

After mutinous troops ousted the democratically elected president in July, Niger’s ruling junta told U.S. forces to depart the nation. Washington has designated the takeover as a coup in October since the junta has also resorted to the Russian mercenaries Wagner for security aid. This set U.S. rules prohibiting military support and aid, therefore forcing the U.S. to evacuate the vital drone base Agadez used for Sahel counterterrorism operations.

The top defense official noted that the departure from Niger, including all equipment, is roughly thirty percent complete and scheduled for completion by September 15. The rate of the pullout will change based on the equipment and weapon system removal. About 600 American soldiers are still in Niger right now.

After Niger withdrew, Chad likewise ordered U.S. forces out of the Adji Kossei Air Base close to N’Djamena. About 20 U.S. Army special forces remain in Chad, along with Marine security forces dispatched to the U.S. Embassy; about 75 U.S. Army special forces moved to Europe.

Future Military Presence of the United States

The U.S. has said the troop cuts in Chad are temporary, implying they may be reinstated following the most recent presidential election there. General Brown said that the future U.S. military involvement in Chad will be decided upon in cooperation with embassy leadership in that nation.

Managing relationships with African Nations

Given Washington’s ties to some dictatorial regimes elsewhere, some African countries have expressed annoyance with the U.S. over matters including democracy and human rights, which they see as hypocritical. Russia is a desirable ally for military juntas in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso since it provides security help free from political meddling.

Emphasizing the importance of the United States to match its expectations and demands to the reality faced by African military leaders, Mvemba Dizolele, head of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., stressed

“Security and defense policy makers in the United States should not approach Africa thinking that deep inside every African military officer is an American officer ready to come out,” Dizolele remarked. Simply said, that is not practical. Every African officer is one who is doing the best under the circumstances they have been given.

Opportunities and Difficulties

Laws like the Leahy Law, which limits military assistance to foreign forces that abuse human rights, and legislative budget limits that limit help to nations where leadership was overthrown in a coup often provide challenges for the United States trying to interact with some African nations. Attractive to many African governments, states like Russia and China provide military help and weapons free from such limitations.

As the area deals with rising violence and changing alliances, the continuous debates among the chiefs of defense conference will be vital in determining the direction of U.S. military strategy and relations in West Africa.