NIGER COUP: US to Withdraw Military Presence From Niger
General James Hecker Commander of U.S Air Force for Africa. The Air Force commander for Africa warned on Friday that the United States is preparing to evacuate two crucial drone and anti-terror stations in Niger if that becomes necessary under the new ruling junta. As part of that planning, the United States is looking for U.S. allies in the Saharan and Sahel regions, some of the world's most active hotspots for extremist organisations linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State, "that we could maybe partner up with, and then move our assets there," Air Force Gen. James Hecker told reporters in Washington. Hecker emphasised that the Biden administration had not made a judgement regarding whether the removal of the country's democratically elected president by the Niger military on July 26 would require American diplomats or security personnel to leave the country. In an area where coups are becoming more frequent and the Wagner mercenary force of Russia is expanding, ...