The United States is continuing its security collaboration with military-led governments in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—countries governed by juntas that took power through coups. This was confirmed by General John Brennan, Deputy Commander of Africom.
“We are still collaborating. We have even shared intelligence with some of them to target key terrorist cells, though the situation has shifted significantly from just two or three years ago,” Brennan stated.
“We are working to reassure them of our support, but competing actors are spreading misinformation and disinformation about our intentions. We are actively countering these narratives,” he added.
pragmatic approach driven by counterterrorism
According to experts, Washington’s pragmatic stance stems from its focus on combating terrorism in the region, though questions remain about the consistency of U.S. policy toward governments that came to power through coups.
regional interests beyond terrorism
Abdoulmoumouni Abbas, a researcher on radicalization and violent extremism in the Sahel and Lake Chad region, emphasized that U.S. interests in the area extend beyond counterterrorism efforts.
“The United States has significant strategic interests in the Sahel, including combating drug trafficking, transnational crime, terrorism, and migration issues—especially organized cross-border crime,” he explained.
In recent months, the U.S. military has intensified its material support and intelligence-sharing with Nigeria as part of a strategy to track Islamic State-affiliated jihadists. However, General Brennan clarified that Washington is not seeking to replace its military bases in Niger, following the forced withdrawal of American troops by local authorities—a move aimed at easing regional concerns.
