The U.S miliatry has announced that an agreement has been reached with Chadian authorities for American special forces to return to the country, after the troops were withdrawn ahead of the West African nation’s presidential election in May. General Kenneth Ekman, who oversaw a similar withdrawal of American soldiers from neighboring Niger, said the decison for U.S.troops to return to Chad was made by Nigerien President Mahamat Deby.
Earlier the head of the U.S.-Africa military command (AFRICOM), Marine Corps General Michael Langley, said his government’s approach to the region – at a time of growing interest from other world powers – will remain “partnership-centric” and led by Africans. On a visit to North and East Africa, the Africom commander said his mission was to “learn and understand their approach for counter-terrorism”.
Analysts say Africa’s growing geo-political significance has led global powers “scrambling” to increase ties with the continent. Whether security or economic cooperation, the continent has piqued the interest of Russia, China, and the U.S.
The American general, however, emphasized that the U.S. relations with the continent are of mutual respect: “When we have engaged with our African partners, we don’t give them an ultimatum of who to choose for a security partner.”
