Date: May 12th, 2024 5:25 PM
Author: self-absorbed organic girlfriend
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/10/pentagon-orders-all-us-combat-troops-to-withdraw-from-niger-00157329
The move upends years of counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel. Niger, particularly a U.S.-built drone base at Agadez, had been a linchpin of that strategy until the country’s military overthrew the government in a coup last summer.
The U.S. partnership with Niger was also a bulwark against Russia’s growing influence in the region. Since the coup, Russian forces, including former members of the Wagner group, have begun to flow into the country. Between 60 and 100 Russian fighters have been living at the same air base as American troops in the capital of Niamey, Base 101, for weeks.
While U.S. officials say the Russian troops do not pose an immediate threat to the Americans, officials are worried that the fighters could go rogue and take actions to antagonize U.S. soldiers, POLITICO reported.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5527894&forum_id=2#47656358)