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US Troops Expected to Withdraw from Niger Amid High-Level Talks: Pentagon
Title: U.S. Troops Expected to Withdraw from Niger Amid High-Level Talks
Around 1,000 troops in Niger are set to withdraw from the country following ongoing high-level talks between Niamey and Washington after a military coup last year, the Pentagon has announced.
The forced withdrawal poses a significant setback for the U.S. military’s efforts against Islamic extremist groups in the volatile Sahel region. The region, stretching from Senegal to the Red Sea, is a key battleground against groups like ISIS and Boko Haram.
The withdrawal also raises concerns about the growing influence of Russia, Iran, and China in Africa, as Western powers like the U.S. and European Union struggle to maintain control in the region.
Joseph Siegle, director of research at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, warns that the shift in power dynamics could lead to increased violence and instability in the Sahel. He attributes the change to a series of government topplings by military juntas and anti-Western disinformation campaigns supported by hostile nations.
The immediate risk of a Niger withdrawal is the potential for increased violence in the region, as terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS-linked insurgents gain ground in countries ruled by military governments.
For more information, read the full report on TheHill.com.
