In another blow to Africa policy, U.S. to withdraw troops from Chad

The United States is planning to temporarily withdraw some of its troops from Chad, U.S. officials said late last week, a move that comes just days after Washington was forced to agree to remove its troops from neighboring Niger. In a letter seen by Reuters it confirmed that earlier this month Chad's air force chief ordered the U.S. to halt activities at an air base near the capital N’Djamena. Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder said a portion of the U.S. troops in Chad would reposition out of the country. He said it was a "temporary step" as part of an ongoing review of security cooperation with Chad, which would resume after the country's May 6 presidential election.