Impact on counterterrorism efforts in Sahel region
Niger revoked military cooperation deal with U.S.
Russia increasing military presence in Africa with equipment deliveries to Libya and potential destinations like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso
U.S. to withdraw over 1000 troops from Niger
U.S. Military to Withdraw Troops From Niger
More than 1,000 American military personnel will leave Niger in the coming months, according to Biden administration officials.
The decision was not a surprise, as Niger said last month that it was revoking its military cooperation deal with the United States following contentious meetings in its capital, Niamey. This move is in line with a recent pattern by countries in the Sahel region to break ties with Western countries and partner with Russia instead.
The U.S. withdrawal will impact counterterrorism efforts and security policy in the tumultuous Sahel region of Africa, which has seen an increase in jihadist violence. The United States is currently actively working on options for a revised military agreement aimed at retaining its foothold in the West African nation.
Niger plays a central role in the U.S. military's operations in Africa's Sahel region, and Washington is concerned about the spread of jihadist violence where local groups have pledged allegiance to al-Qaida and the Islamic State groups. Niger is home to a major U.S.
The withdrawal comes after Russian vessels have been unloading thousands of tons of military equipment in the eastern Libyan port of Tobruk this month, raising concerns about Russia's growing military presence in Africa. The equipment may be used to sustain Russia's presence in eastern Libya or destined for countries further south in Africa like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso where Russia has ties to leaders of recent coups.
U.S. troops in Niger are currently functionally stranded and prohibited from conducting missions or returning home at scheduled times due to the ongoing situation.
In response to the withdrawal, Rep. Matt Gaetz claimed that the Biden Administration is actively suppressing intelligence reports about the state of U.S. military relations with Niger, while service members in Niger report being unable to receive mail, medicine, or other support from the Pentagon.
Russian vessels have been unloading thousands of tons of military equipment in the eastern Libyan port of Tobruk this month.
, Russian-controlled port of Tartus in Syria and contain towed artillery, armored personnel carriers, and rocket launchers.
The equipment may be used to sustain Russia’s growing military presence in eastern Libya or destined for countries further south in Africa like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso where Russia has ties to leaders of recent coups.
Through its proxy Wagner mercenaries, Russia backed Haftar’s failed bid to conquer western Libya in 2019 after the country split following the ousting of national leader Col. Muamar Gadaffi in 2011.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
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Deception
(10%)
The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position of Russia's growing military presence in Africa and Haftar's alliance with Russia. The author also makes editorializing statements such as 'the criticism goes', 'Some experts see', and 'Fishman said'. There is no clear evidence of emotional manipulation or sensationalism, but the article does contain quotes from experts to add credibility to the author's assertions.
Tom Kington is the Italy correspondent for Defense News.
Fishman argued that the U.S. should have enlisted the help of the UAE or Egypt, who back Haftar.
Some experts see the uptick in activity as a result of America’s diplomatic strategy toward Haftar, which has failed to stop the warlord from allying with Russia and given Moscow the chance to pour weapons into the country, turning it into a gateway to supply its growing presence across Africa.
Fallacies
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The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting Ben Fishman multiple times. This is a fallacy because the truth of the statement does not depend on the authority's expertise or credibility.
“Eastern Libya is becoming a significant way station into Africa for Russia,” said Ben Fishman.
“There has been an continuous U.S. attempt to engage with Haftar, rather than isolate him, but he has repeatedly defied our requests and UN requests and moved closer to Russia. The U.S. approach has been ‘He will move closer to Russia if we isolate him,’ but he moved closer anyway and Moscow is profiting,” said Fishman.
“Egypt has no interest in an increased Russian presence across the border in Libya - this was a missed opportunity,” he said.
Niger's government requested the withdrawal of US troops.
Negotiations to withdraw troops will begin within days.
Accuracy
The United States has agreed to withdraw its troops from Niger.
U.S. service members have remained in Niger despite paused security cooperation.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
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Fallacies
(95%)
The article contains an appeal to authority when it states 'For years, the Pentagon has deployed a mix of mostly Air Force and Army personnel to Niger to support a mission scrutinizing militant groups in the region.' This statement implies that because the Pentagon has been doing this for years, it must be valid or necessary. However, this does not provide any logical reasoning or evidence for why this is true or why it justifies the continued presence of US troops in Niger. Additionally, there are several instances of inflammatory rhetoric used to describe the actions of Niger's government and military coup last year, such as 'illegal' and 'significant setback.' These words are emotionally charged and do not add any logical reasoning or evidence to the article.
For years, the Pentagon has deployed a mix of mostly Air Force and Army personnel to Niger to support a mission scrutinizing militant groups in the region.
The Biden Administration is actively suppressing intelligence reports about the state of U.S. military relations with Niger, according to Rep. Matt Gaetz.
“The Pentagon has maintained it is seeking clarification since last month.”
“Gaetz's report claims that the U.S. Embassy in Niger is covering up the failure of their U.S. diplomatic efforts in Niger and dismissing or suppressing intelligence from the Air Force's Office of Special Investigations and Special Operations Command Africa.”
“U.S. service members in Niger are functionally stranded in the increasingly hostile country, prohibited from conducting missions or returning home at scheduled times.”
Accuracy
]The Biden Administration is actively suppressing intelligence reports about the state of U.S. military relations with Niger, according to Rep. Matt Gaetz.[
U.S. troops in Niger cannot get medicine, mail, or other support from the Pentagon.
Niger’s ruling junta revoked its agreement allowing U.S. troops and civilian Defense Department employees to operate in the country.
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting as the author only reports details that support his position about the Biden Administration's supposed cover-up and abandonment of troops in Niger. The author also uses emotional manipulation by implying danger to troops if no remedy is found between Niger and the United States before the end of the month.
The Biden Administration is 'actively suppressing intelligence reports' about the state of U.S. military relations with Niger, according to a new report issued by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.
Gaetz said, 'They are suppressing intelligence because they don’t want to acknowledge that their multibillion-dollar flop for Niger to be centerpiece of their Africa Strategy has been a complete and total failure.'
Next month, critical medications will also run out for individual service members.
Fallacies
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None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(80%)
The author, Nick Turse, uses language that depicts the Biden Administration and the State Department as engaging in a 'massive cover-up' and 'hiding the true conditions on the ground of U.S. diplomatic relations in Niger.' This is an example of bias through language that demeans one side as extreme or unreasonable.
The Biden Administration and the State Department are engaged in a massive cover-up.
They are hiding the true conditions on the ground of U.S. diplomatic relations in Niger and are effectively abandoning our troops in that country with no help in sight.
The United States is attempting to create a new military agreement with Niger to allow it to remain in the country.
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Niger plays a central role in the U.S. military’s operations in Africa’s Sahel region.
Accuracy
The U.S. has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in training Niger’s military since it began operations there in 2013.
Relations between Niger and Western countries have frayed since mutinous soldiers ousted the country’s democratically elected president in July.
Niger’s junta has turned to Russia for security instead of France.
Russian military trainers arrived in Niger to reinforce the country’s air defenses and with Russian equipment to train Nigeriens to use.
In October, Washington officially designated the military takeover as a coup, which triggered U.S. laws restricting the military support and aid that it can provide to Niger.
A U.S. delegation traveled to Niger in March for discussions at senior levels on a possible agreement respecting both sides’ concerns.
The revised agreement would aim at finding a formula that addressed respective interests and concerns, as maintaining a U.S. presence in the country is essential to ensure the safety of the troops.
Without a U.S. troop presence, it will become harder to protect and evacuate military and diplomatic staff in the region if there were any type of escalation.
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