This week, the Biden administration faced setbacks in Africa as U.S. forces were forced to leave Niger and Chad. In Niger, over a thousand U.S. military personnel were withdrawn after a coup in July 2023 led to a military junta taking power. The junta, facing sanctions from Western powers and ECOWAS, turned to Russia, China, and Iran for support, signing deals and welcoming troops from these countries.
In Chad, the surprise eviction of 75 U.S. Special Forces operators came after a memo from Gen. Amine Idriss threatened to terminate Chad’s Status of Forces Agreement with the U.S. It is speculated that Chad’s move could be a negotiating tactic, but the Pentagon announced the repositioning of U.S. military forces from Chad.
The Biden administration’s diplomatic efforts in Africa have been criticized, as Russia and China make inroads by offering support to authoritarian regimes in the region. The U.S. struggles to compete with these countries’ promises of stability and economic prosperity, highlighting a shift in power dynamics in Africa.
