The United States is planning a temporary withdrawal of some of its troops from Chad, according to U.S. officials. This move comes just days after Washington was forced to agree to remove its troops from neighboring Niger.

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 stated that a portion of the U.S. troops in Chad would reposition out of the country as 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.

Until now, Chad has been a key partner for Western and regional militaries in the fight against a violent Islamist insurgency in neighboring West Africa.

However, the country has become increasingly central to Western security strategy in the region since neighboring Niger kicked out French troops after its junta seized power in a coup last year, following similar moves by military-led Mali and Burkina Faso