The government of Chad has firmly denied rumours about an imminent return of U.S. troops to the country.
Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah rejected a statement made by U.S. General Kenneth Eckman of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), which suggested that American forces were preparing to return to Chad at the request of N’Djamena. Speaking to the press, Koulamallahsaid:
There has been no contact between the military departments, and we categorically deny this information. We have not discussed with the American government the return of its troops to Chad.
The country’s former Interior Minister, Ibrahim al-Asil, also addressed the matter, emphasising that the U.S. military left Chad after assisting in counterterrorism operations and has not returned since.
He added that public opinion in Chad is more focused on the withdrawal of French soldiers, who now have Chad as their last major physical foothold in Africa, following their expulsion from several other countries.
Earlier, the United States completed the withdrawal of its military personnel and assets from Niger on the order to leave by the Niger government, marking the end of its presence in the country after over 8 years.
The completed withdrawal was confirmed in a press release issued by AFRICOM, confirming that both the U.S. Department of Defense and Niger’s Ministry of National Defense have finalised the process.
The U.S. withdrawal from Niger, which included the closure of military bases in Agadez and Niamey began on May 19, following Niger’s cancellation of the long-standing counterterrorism partnership.
Prior to the completion of this withdrawal, reports had surfaced suggesting that the U.S. plans to redeploy its troops to other West African nations, including Benin and Côte d’Ivoire.
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