The United States Senate has rejected a proposed bid to force President Joe Biden to withdraw U.S. troops from Niger Republic, a West African nation where military officers seized power in July.
According to Reuters, this was passed by the lawmakers on Thursday after a 86-11 process.
The United States formally declared this month that there had been a military coup d’etat in Niger, which resulted in officially suspending assistance, but U.S. officials said there were no plans to their military presence from the West African country.
Niger has been a collaborator in US’s struggle against Islamist terrorists in Africa, who have murdered hundreds and uprooted millions. There are approximately 1,000 US Defence Department personnel in the country.
The legislation’s proponent, Republican Senator Rand Paul, contended that the troops were inappropriately deployed without legislative approval and that Americans should not be caught in the crossfire of a fight in Niger.
“With the Middle East on fire, what sense does it make to have over 1,000 troops in Niger? Does it make sense to station over 1,000 troops in a country ruled by a military junta?” Paul said in a Senate speech.
Senator Ben Cardin, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that if Americans withdraw it could leave a vacuum that could be filled by Russia or its partner Wagner mercenaries.
“We do not give enough attention to that part of the world. We certainly don’t want to signal that we’re abandoning that part of the world,” Cardin said.
Within the period of last 10years, U.S. troops have trained Nigerien forces in counterterrorism and operated two military bases, including one that conducts drone missions against Islamic State and an Al Qaeda affiliate in the region.
