Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., released a report on Thursday alleging that the State Department has withheld crucial intelligence, putting American troops stationed in Niger at risk, as per the Daily Caller.
Entitled “Unwelcome in Niger: An Interim Report by Congressman Matt Gaetz on the American Troop Crisis in Niger,” the investigation includes testimonies from multiple service members, including senior enlisted personnel, who claim they have been left without adequate support.
Gaetz stated in the report that since the change in Niger’s government in mid-2023, the Department of Defense has faced challenges in executing troop rotations or supplying essential resources, accusing the Biden administration of suppressing intelligence reports to avoid embarrassment.
Amid escalating tensions, Niger’s junta spokesman, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, declared a halt to military cooperation with the U.S. in March, denouncing recent U.S. flights over the region as illegal, according to The Associated Press. However, subsequent reports suggested ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Nigerien authorities to maintain troop presence.
Gaetz’s report accuses U.S. Embassy officials of concealing failures within the country, alleging instances of altering report content to downplay critical events and disregarding intelligence assessments from agencies like the Office of Special Investigations and Special Operation Command Africa.
Service members cited in the report raised concerns over diminishing medical and hygiene supplies, with one highlighting a shortage of malaria medication and other essential drugs. Gaetz revealed that he had sent inquiries to various governmental bodies and foreign embassies seeking clarity on the situation.
“Our troops are currently sitting on a powder keg caused by political indecision at the top of the Department of State and Department of Defense. With a military junta in charge — who detests our presence and considers us unserious and predatory — the situation seems to be setting the groundwork for catastrophic diplomatic collapse like we saw during the 2012 Benghazi [Libya] attack,” Gaetz remarked.
Niger regularly hosts approximately 1,000 U.S. troops and operates a $110 million air base used for drone operations against Islamist militant groups in the region, according to The Washington Post.
