US troops will return to Chad within a month to discuss changes to the agreement that allows them to remain in the country, a US military commander said on Wednesday.
The United States announced last month that it would withdraw most of its roughly 100 troops from Chad after the Chadian government questioned the legality of the operation there. This follows Niger’s decision to order U.S. troops to leave the country, dealing a blow to U.S. military operations in the Sahel region, a vast area in the southern Sahara Desert where groups associated with al-Qaeda and Islamic State operate. Ta.
US withdraws troops from Chad, Niger as African nations question counter-terrorism role
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command, made the comments to reporters in Ghana at the second African Maritime Forces Summit (AMFS).
Gen. Michael Langley, commander, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Africa Command, speaks during a hearing before the Senate Committee on Military Affairs investigating the posture of U.S. Central Command and U.S. Africa Command, Thursday, March 16, 2023, at the U.S. Capitol. testify at the meeting. Washington. US troops will return to Chad within a month to discuss revisions to the agreement that allows them to remain in the country, a US military general said on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
He said the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Chad is expected to be temporary and that Chad has informed Washington that it wants to continue security cooperation after the presidential election.
Langley said: “We intend to hold talks again within a month to see how and what we need to do to further strengthen our security posture and strengthen our counter-terrorism efforts.” Ta.
Chadian government officials could not be reached for comment. Chad’s presidential election is scheduled for Monday, with analysts expecting the incumbent to win.
Chad’s interim president Mahamat Deby Itno took power after his father, who had ruled the country for more than 30 years, was killed in fighting with rebels in 2021. Last year, the government announced it would extend the 18-month transition period for another two years. That led to protests across the country.
Langley said the U.S. troop withdrawal was a temporary measure “as part of an ongoing review of security cooperation” and would resume after Chad’s presidential election on May 6.
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Both Chad and Niger are vital to the U.S. military’s efforts to counter violent extremist groups across the Sahel region, but Niger’s ruling military government last month ended an agreement allowing U.S. forces to operate in the West African country. I let it happen.
Niger has a major U.S. air base in the city of Agadez, about 850 miles from the capital Niamey, which is used for manned and unmanned reconnaissance flights and other operations. The United States has also invested hundreds of millions of dollars in training Niger’s military since it began operations there in 2013.
