Fight Against Terrorism : US Wishes To Stay In The Sahel

The head of the United States Africa Command, Gen Michael Langley has said the US is still engaged with Niger and Chad, despite withdrawing troops from the countries. On Wednesday, May 1, 2024 dozens of US troops left Chad after the country's military leaders raised concerns over their presence ahead of the 6 May 2024 elections. Gen Michael Langley told the BBC that the move was a “temporary repositioning” of troops. Last month, US troops left neighbouring Niger after being ordered out by the country’s transitional military government. Russian military instructors have arrived in Niger as part of a new agreement with the military leaders. Several other military-led countries in the Sahel region have also recently strengthened ties with Russia and cut them with France, the former colonial power, as they try to fight an Islamist insurgency in the region. 
The Sahel region is considered the new global epicentre of the Islamic State group. Gen Langley said that violent extremist organisations were the biggest threat to Africa's stability. Gen Michael Langley: “African countries can choose whom to partner up with”
Last year, Niger and Burkina Faso both announced they were following Mali in withdrawing from the G5 international force set up to fight Islamists in the region. The three military-run countries have instead set up their own grouping - the Alliance of Sahel States. The US set up a drone base in the central Niger city of Agadez, 750km north-east of the capital, Niamey, in 2016 to help m...