The United States is planning to redeploy its military forces to other countries along the Atlantic coast in Africa following the recent withdrawal from Niger. A 10-person team, led by Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman, has been designated to oversee the strategic relocation of some of the 1,100 U.S. troops who were stationed in Niger before being expelled.
As part of this realignment, the U.S. is investing $4 million to upgrade airports in Benin, aiming to enhance facilities to accommodate military helicopters. This investment is part of a broader strategy to bolster regional operations. In Côte d’Ivoire, a team of U.S. Army Special Forces, often referred to as “Green Berets,” has been deployed to provide training to local military forces. These U.S. forces are also operating surveillance aircraft from Abidjan, the country’s largest city, to supply vital intelligence support to Ivorian troops.
In addition to these efforts, Maj. Gen. Ekman is considering the potential reactivation of the U.S. regional headquarters in Chad and the redeployment of Green Berets to that country. This move comes in the wake of the suspension of military cooperation between the U.S. and Chad, which had previously hosted U.S. forces.
Despite these plans, Ekman has expressed doubts about the success of replicating the “counter-terrorism force” model that was previously implemented in Niger. He is concerned that establishing a similar force in these new locations may not be as effective.
The repositioning of U.S. troops follows Niger’s decision to end its military partnership with the U.S. The two nations have agreed on a deadline of September 15 to complete the withdrawal of American forces. Additionally, the U.S. will also be withdrawing a contingent of about 75 troops from Chad, which is currently reassessing its security cooperation with Washington.
At the time of the withdrawal, the U.S. military presence included approximately 1,100 personnel in Niger and around 100 in Chad. This strategic shift reflects a broader reassessment of U.S. military engagements in the region amid changing geopolitical dynamics.