 "US has been asked to withdraw its troops from Niger and Chad by the junta governments there. AP")
The United States is looking to withdraw its troops from Chad, a landlocked nation in the Sahel region of Africa. The move is temporary. But that does not mean it is insignificant.
It points to a trend of the West’s waning military influence in Africa, and especially in the Sahel region. Withdrawal of French and American troops from various countries is a testament to this.
We explain what the trend has been, what has spurred it off, and how Russia and Iran have become embroiled in this war for greater military influence in the resource-rich continent.
US troops to withdraw from Chad
Earlier this month, Chad’s air force chief demanded a halt to US operations at an airbase near N’Djamena. On Thursday, US officials said that they were planning to move their troops out of the country temporarily.
This development marked a cooling of US’ relations with Chad, which has been a crucial partner in the fight against Islamist insurgency in West Africa.
Chad’s move is yet another sign of the waning military influence of the West in the region. This is a very noticeable trend.
A trend of decreasing military influence
Recent shifts in Western military influence in Africa have become evident through significant troop withdrawals by the US and France.
In Niger, after a coup that ousted the president last year, the new military junta terminated a military cooperation agreement with the US. That meant that the US is getting kicked out of a country that houses one of its most important bases in Africa.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIn fact, roughly 1,000 US troops are to withdraw from the country in a couple of months.
Niger has already kicked out French troops. Paris concluded its military operations in the West African country in December 2023. It was an abrupt end to a decade-long presence aimed at combating Islamist insurgents.
These exits, especially by France, are part of a broader pattern. Military juntas in the region, including those in Burkina Faso and Mali, have pushed to sever long-established security ties with France following the coups in the country between 2020 and 2022.
The European Union’s role is also a questionable one. There is distrust from the African populace towards several countries that are a part of the bloc. Most often, the reason has been these countries’ roles as colonisers. The memory of the colonial era is still fresh in the collective consciousness of many citizens of these countries.
Another aspect of this is the EU’s failures in maintaining peace in the region. Putting a stop to terrorist activities, the primary stated reason behind the presence of European troops in the region, remains rampant. But that’s not all.
The bloc had funded military training in Mali and Niger, mainly with the aim of combating extremism linked to al-Qaida. Some of the people trained by the EU went on to play a part in coups that toppled governments.
Russia and Iran fill the power vacuum
While the West’s military influence in the region has been waning, that of countries like Russia and Iran has seemingly become more prominent.
The Wagner Group, a nominally private Russian military company, described by US officials as a “proxy military force of the Kremlin,” has expanded its operations. The group is active in nations like the Central African Republic, Libya, Mali, and Sudan, Wagner has also made attempts to engage with Burkina Faso and had been accused of efforts to destabilise Chad’s government.
The Russian state itself has been actively involved. In 2023, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) noted in 2023 that Russia’s influence in Africa is on the rise, with Moscow securing military cooperation agreements with 43 African countries. Russia’s strategy appears to leverage anti-Western sentiment to strengthen its ties across the continent.
Iran’s increasing role is notably marked by its export of military drones , which have had significant battlefield impacts. In Sudan, Iranian drones have played a critical role in favour of the Sudanese Armed Forces during the civil war, helping regain territory around the capital. Similarly, in Ethiopia, the military credited Iranian-supplied drones, among those from other countries, for turning the tide in a year-old civil war against Tigrayan rebels in 2021.
An intricate geopolitical landscape
While Paris has reduced its presence in Africa, it still maintains military bases in countries like Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Gabon, Djibouti, and Chad. The US, too, has significant military influence in Zambia, Burundi, Angola, D’jibouti, and multiple other countries.
These remaining footholds indicate that despite being diminished, the scale of Western military influenceis by no means small.
Thus, Africa is poised to navigate a complex future, balancing traditional partnerships with Western militaries with rising influences from nations like Russia and Iran. Not to mention, the role played by terrorist organisations, local militias, and juntas.
With inputs from agencies