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| Africa North |
| US Military "Repositioning" Troops from $110m Drone Base in Niger |
| 2023-09-29 |
| [StartsAndStripes] The Pentagon said Monday that it is “assessing” the implications of France’s upcoming military withdrawal from Niger for the U.S. military, which still has about 1,100 troops hunkered down at a drone site in the country. Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said the focus is on relocating personnel from a military site in the capital of Niamey known as Base 101 to an Air Force drone hub in the city of Agadez. Earlier this month, the U.S. began repositioning equipment and personnel to Agadez as a precautionary move. On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that his country was ending its military presence in Niger in connection with a July coup that toppled the democratically elected president. The situation has upended counterterrorism operations in western Africa, where the U.S. and France have worked in close partnership for several years. Niger has served as the main operational hub for U.S. forces, with the $110 million drone base in Agadez serving as the cornerstone for intelligence gathering on an expanding mix of Islamic militants in the Sahel region. But now, the future of the mission in Niger is uncertain. Singh said that since Niger’s military seized power, the U.S. has ceased all counterterrorism operations in the country as well as any joint training with their military. The only surveillance flights taking place now are “for our own force protection, but nothing for counterterrorism,” Singh said. Related: Agadez: 2023-08-15 The coup in Niger as a failure of French policy Agadez: 2023-08-09 Hung Cao: Biden surrenders America for the sixth time Agadez: 2021-11-03 Top US military commander concludes trip to East Africa Related: Niger : 2023-09-28 France's former envoy to Niger returns to Paris after weeks of tension Niger : 2023-09-28 Moment 'Russian made' transport plane careers off runway in Africa and explodes in giant fireball amid suspicions jet was linked to Wagner Niger : 2023-09-26 US to 'evaluate' Niger ties after France kicked out |
| Posted by:Griter Slash1619 |
| #4 How about "1100 troops" keeping amigos on the amigo side of the border ? |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2023-09-29 09:18 |
| #3 1,100 troop in Niger? What for? To secure our access to yellowcake, the same resource we sold off to the Russians some time ago? |
| Posted by: Jerens Black9355 2023-09-29 09:14 |
| #2 Guess they'll need this... |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2023-09-29 06:55 |
| #1 Follow the French lead. Just get out of there and stay out of there. If the Klingons want another Benghazi, leave the Land Rovers and weapons, and let they stay on. Michelin, Michelin, Michelin....? A French word correct? Didn't they once have rubber plantations in SE Asia, but suddenly decided to leave ? |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2023-09-29 03:14 |