Rep. Panetta Leads Bipartisan Call for a Classified Briefing on U.S. Strategy in the Sahel Region of Africa

Washington, DC - United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) led a bipartisan letter requesting a classified briefing from the United States Departments of Defense and State to conduct Congressional oversight of the government's strategy for our withdrawal from Chad and Niger, and our broader strategy to combat expanding violent extremism in the Sahel. For years, the Sahel in Africa has seen surges in political instability, including eight military coups since 2020, the expansion of Violent Extremist Organizations (VEOs), and an increased presence of Russian proxy forces, including the Wagner Group. This has placed U.S. servicemembers at grave risk. Reps. Austin Scott (GA-08), Pat Fallon (TX-04), and Trent Kelly (MS-01) co-led the letter with Rep. Panetta.

This month, the United States began drafting plans to withdraw about 1,000 troops in Niger, which is currently under rule by a military junta. This developed in the aftermath of the Nigerian junta's suspension of its agreement with the United States military to address the spread of jihadist threats and followed the arrival of roughly 100 Russian military instructors and Russian anti-aircraft systems to Niger. Additionally, the Chadian government requested the United States cease activities at the Adji Kosseï (BAK) Air Base in Chad's capital, N'Djamena. These concerning actions mirror recent developments in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, potentially undermining United States counter-VEO operations.

"We cannot neglect trending developments across the Sahel, and as U.S. Representatives, we must ensure oversight of our operations and alignment with your Departments on what we're competing for and what long-term success looks like," wrote the Members. "Our men and women deserve a Sahel strategy that protects their safety while demonstrating strength and commitment to the region. If we fail in the Sahel, our African partners will suffer, and so will our servicemembers and their families."

The Members continue to push for the designation of Niger, Chad, Burkina, Faso, and Mali as Qualified Hazardous Duty Areas (QHDAs). Doing so grants our servicemembers stationed there with tax exclusion benefits in recognition of the threats they confront. Reps. Panetta and Scott previously advocated for and securedImminent Danger Pay for servicemembers in Burkina Faso.

The full letter can be found here and below.

Dear Secretary Austin and Secretary Blinken,

We write to request a briefing by the United States Departments of Defense and State about our government's strategy for the Sahel region in Africa. We are greatly concerned about recent developments in the area, including Niger and Chad, which have led to the withdrawal of American forces, growing violent extremism, and an increased presence of Russian personnel and proxy forces. A briefing on the current affairs of that region will help us in our oversight responsibilities as U.S. Representatives so we can continue to work together on a proper strategy to prevent terrorism, promote human rights, and deal with malign influences as we ensure the security of the United States of America.

Recently, the United States began drafting plans to withdraw about 1,000 troops in Niger, which is currently under rule by a military junta. This would impact critical surveillance for counterterrorism operations and will have implications for addressing intrastate violence and spillover violence from neighboring states. This developed in the aftermath of the Nigerian junta's suspension of its agreement with the United States military to address the spread of jihadist threats, and followed the arrival of roughly 100 Russian military instructors and Russian anti-aircraft systems to Niger. This has become a worrying trend, as Russia's Wagner Group, now rebranded as Africa Corps, is in neighboring Mali at the military junta's invite, and Russian soldiers are in neighboring Burkina Faso.

Meanwhile, the Chadian government requested the United States cease activities at the Adji Kosseï (BAK) Air Base in Chad's capital, N'Djamena. On April 26^th, the Pentagon affirmed its withdrawal of approximately 75 Army Special Forces personnel. The BAK Air Base supports efforts to counter jihadist insurgencies and provides strategic access to neighboring Libya, where Iranian proxies operate. Purportedly, the State Department was caught off guard by the Chadian government's request, which seems to have occurred in similar fashions in Burkina Faso amid its second coup; in Niger amid the July 2023 coup; and in Senegal, where recent presidential elections took a worrying turn earlier this year. Like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, Russia seems to be growing its foothold in Chad. In January, Chad's interim President, Mahamat Deby, became the latest military leader to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss cooperation on security threats.

These developments in Niger and Chad have been forthcoming. This is why last year, we pushed to designate these two countries, alongside Burkina Faso and Mali, as Qualified Hazardous Duty Areas (QHDAs). Doing so grants our servicemembers stationed there with tax exclusion benefits in recognition of the threats they confront, including a surge in activity from Russian proxy forces and VEOs, such as those linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State. The ongoing and uncertain situations in Chad and Niger yet again reaffirm how rapid the security environment can change in Sahelian countries. We want to be clear that threats in Africa pose a risk to U.S. servicemembers and our national security.

We cannot neglect trending developments across the Sahel, and as U.S. Representatives, we must ensure oversight of our operations and alignment with your Departments on what we're competing for and what long-term success looks like. Our men and women deserve a Sahel strategy that protects their safety while demonstrating strength and commitment to the region. If we fail in the Sahel, our African partners will suffer, and so will our servicemembers and their families.

Sincerely,

###

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.