Iraq: The United States completes the withdrawal of its military forces after twenty years

The United States is finalizing the withdrawal of its last troops deployed in Iraq this September 30, 2026. According to BBC Afrique, this decision puts an end to a military presence that began with the 2003 invasion. After an initial withdrawal in 2011, American forces returned in 2014 to fight the Islamic State group as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, a mission now considered to have reached its conclusion.

This disengagement follows a bilateral agreement reached in 2024 between Washington and Baghdad. While the official mission is complete, analysts point out that the departure is also dictated by security imperatives. American facilities, which had become vulnerable targets in a context of heightened regional tensions, no longer justified maintaining a contingent whose numbers had fallen to approximately 2,400 soldiers in December 2023.

The legacy of this period remains a subject of debate. According to experts cited by BBC Afrique, while the fall of Saddam Hussein allowed for the emergence of a certain political pluralism, the country remains confronted with widespread corruption and the persistent influence of armed militias. Some observers believe that the intervention primarily destabilized the region, allowing Iran to expand its influence in the absence of the counterweight that the former regime represented.

Iraqi authorities have long faced internal pressure to demand this departure, with a portion of the population perceiving the foreign presence as an infringement on national sovereignty. Although the military withdrawal is effective, specialists warn that American influence will not disappear entirely, as Washington retains various diplomatic and political levers in the country for the years to come.

Our perspective

The withdrawal of American troops from Iraq reminds African nations of the crucial importance of sovereignty. Iraqi history illustrates the limitations of foreign military interventions in establishing sustainable democracy. For Africa, this departure underscores the need to prioritize endogenous solutions, led by the continent's institutions, in order to guarantee real stability based on respect for the people and political independence.