US Military Official: Washington 'Engaged With West African Juntas'

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Facts

  • The United States remains involved in Niger and Chad despite troop withdrawals, Gen. Michael Langley, the head of the US Africa Command, has said.1
  • The US' 'ultimate goal' was to foster communication with nations taken over by juntas and guide the leaders 'on a roadmap back to democracy,' according to Langley.2
  • While Russia continues to make geopolitical gains in the region, America's influence in the Sahel has reportedly waned after the military juntas toppled the democratically elected governments in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.3
  • Amid Islamist insurgencies and rows with former colonial power France, military governments in West Africa have been abandoning ties with the US and other traditional Western allies in favor of Russia.4
  • In Niger, Russian military personnel even entered an airbase where some American troops were still stationed. However, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that the presence of Russian forces wasn't a 'significant issue' in terms of US soldiers' safety.5
  • In Chad, Langley said Washington could resume talks to keep its troops in the country after most of them were withdrawn last month due to reported legality concerns.6

Sources: 1BBC News, 2Business Insider, 3Washington Post, 4TheFinancialTimes, 5CBS and 6Associated Press.

Narratives

  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Daily Sabah. Dissatisfaction with Western influence in Africa has led to African states like Niger turning to new allies like Russia. There's a strong desire to eliminate neocolonial policies and thus diversify who African nations choose to cooperate with in a multipolar world. The Western nations' harsh reactions to such a tendency haven't helped either. This shift has reshaped alliances in the Sahel region, potentially impacting stability and counterterrorism efforts.
  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by The Hill. Russia's problematic assertive strategy in Africa, amidst the rising importance of the Global South, exposes challenges in governance and hints at great power competition on the continent. Russia's influence, which aims to reduce Western influence and promote authoritarian rule, signifies a larger strategy of exploiting conflicts for economic and political gains in the region. This underscores the need for a coordinated Western strategy and recognition of Africa's significance in a rules-based order.

Predictions