US Temporarily Withdraws Troops from Chad Amidst Security Concerns and Election Uncertainties
The US is withdrawing around 75 troops from Chad, including US Army Special Forces, according to the Pentagon.
This decision comes after the US announced it would remove troops from Niger.
The withdrawal is temporary and is linked to an ongoing review of security cooperation in the region.
The troops are expected to leave Chad before its May 6 presidential election.
Chad's air force chief requested justification for the US military's presence at Adji Kossei Air Base in N'Djamena, and when none was provided, the US government temporarily withdrew its forces.
The US troops were training Chadian anti-terrorism special forces and an elite unit to combat Boko Haram.
The US presence was initially motivated by the shared objective of fighting terrorism between the two nations, but Chadian concerns led to the withdrawal.
The US is withdrawing its more than 1,000 personnel from Niger, but this does not mean a break in cooperation between the two countries in the fight against terrorism.
Discussions will take place to explore the possibility of US forces returning with a bilateral agreement.
Niger, a key partner in the US and French strategy to combat jihadists in the region, ended a military cooperation agreement with Washington in March, claiming the US troop presence was illegal.
The US will continue to explore options to address potential terrorist threats in the region despite the withdrawal.
In March 2021, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno took power in a coup following the death of his father, Idriss Deby Itno, who had ruled Chad for over 30 years with an iron fist.
Deby announced his candidacy in the upcoming presidential election, which saw opposition candidates banned and his main rival, Yaya Dillo Djerou, killed in an army assault on his party headquarters.