The situation in the Sahel worsens after the withdrawal of U.S. troops

In September, the U.S. military completed the withdrawal of its troops from Niger, where it had two bases that helped partner countries in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel. In 2023, members of Niger’s military staged a coup. Citing the U.S. military, VOA’s Carla Babb reports that the troop withdrawal has had a major impact on counterterrorism efforts in the region.

With the U.S. military leaving Nigeria, defense officials say their presence in West Africa has dropped to less than 300 troops from about 1,000.

U.S. General Kenneth Ekman led the withdrawal of troops whose mission was to help against “violent extremist organizations” in the Sahel.

“If there was one country that is more important to our ability to tackle the problems of violent extremism in the Sahel or the Sahelian challenge, that country is Nigeria. ”It is a strategic step backwards in how we pursue our security objectives in the region.

Military analyst Bill Roggio says terrorism in West Africa is getting worse.

“The jihadists have made progress in several countries. ”In Burkina Faso, it is estimated that about 40% of the country is under the control of Al-Qaeda’s affiliate there.

He says that without a powerful base to house surveillance troops and drones, U.S. and French counter-terrorism missions in West Africa are in an inopportune situation.

” The region has become more impenetrable, ” says General Ekman.

Without the Western support that existed before the military junta overthrew the democratically elected government, Nigeria has failed to stem the tide of rising terrorism.

Niger’s military says terrorist attacks in early December killed at least 39 people, including children, near the border with Burkina Faso.

“In Niger, violent extremist attacks have become more deadly. This is a fact since the coup of July 26, 2023. They have fewer resources and fewer partners,” said General Kenneth Ekman.

Officials say the withdrawal does not mean the U.S. military is giving up on West Africa, but is changing tactics.

”This is the initial stage of our reset.

General Michael Langley, head of the U.S. Africa Command, told VOA in October that he intends to build a new strategy to help fight the growing terrorist threat.

“We withdrew from Niger, but we are engaging with the coastal countries of West Africa because terrorism is spreading in the northern regions of Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo and Benin.”

General Ekman says this requires a different approach.

“We have changed tactics compared to when we had troops in Niger. “Our access to countries like Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, Chad and the extent to which they want to cooperate with us will depend on the new strategy.

General Langley says negotiations to work with these governments will take time.

”We are still in the stages of determining what is required of us by the host countries in order to efficiently count counter-terrorism efforts, ” he said.

As discussions continue, analysts say terrorism is increasingly threatening those governments that have pushed countries that might be able to help them. VOA