US Removes Troops from Chad Base in Response to Government Request

CNN
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US military personnel have been withdrawn from a French military base in Chad following the country’s request last month, a Pentagon spokesperson told CNN.

A majority of the US troops stationed at the base in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena, have relocated to Germany.

It was previously reported that less than 100 US troops were in Chad, primarily as part of the US’ Special Operations Task Force, a significant regional hub for US Special Operations Forces.

The Task Force was initially based in Germany before relocating to Chad in 2021.

“About 60 US forces have been safely relocated from Chad to Germany,” Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Pete Nguyen confirmed. “This is part of an ongoing review of our security cooperation, which will resume post the May 6 Presidential election.”

The withdrawal was completed on Tuesday, Nguyen added.

Some US forces will remain in the country, working from the US embassy, along with Marines providing embassy security.

The withdrawal follows Chad’s threat to cancel the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which defines the terms for US military personnel in the country.

A defense official suggested that the disagreement was largely an administrative issue likely to be resolved after Chad’s elections.

These developments are crucial for US interests, given the expanding Russian influence in Africa.

Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, the head of US Africa Command, expressed that Central African countries were “in a dilemma,” with developmental needs requiring cooperation from countries like Russia and China.

“The stakes are high in this region,” Langley said.

In January, Langley visited Chad along with AFRICOM’s senior enlisted advisor, Sgt. Maj. Michael Woods, meeting with Chadian military leaders.

In a press release, Langley expressed AFRICOM’s commitment to “building enduring partnerships with Chad and other African nations.”