Iraq marks Sovereignty Day as US coalition ends mission, raising security questions for Nigeria

The US-led coalition completed its withdrawal from Iraqi Kurdistan on Wednesday, as scheduled, ending its over-decade mission in Iraq that began in 2014 to fight ISIS. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi declared Thursday, October 1 as Sovereignty Day, stating it affirms Iraq's path to sovereignty and requires addressing weapons outside state control.

This mirrors Nigeria's own security challenges, where foreign troop withdrawals (like France's exit from the Sahel) have coincided with persistent insurgencies from groups like Boko Haram and bandits. The Iraqi experience shows that ending foreign military presence doesn't automatically resolve internal threats—Tehran-backed factions there, like Nigeria's militias, may resist disarmament and exploit power vacuums, testing the state's monopoly on violence.

Nigeria's government, currently negotiating foreign military cooperation, should note Iraq's struggle to disarm factions despite troop withdrawal. Key lessons: Set clear timelines for disarmament talks, address root causes of militancy beyond security deals, and prepare alternative security arrangements. As Iraq works to consolidate state authority post-withdrawal, will Nigeria apply similar foresight to its own security transitions, or risk repeating cycles of instability?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/09/30/us-led-troops-exit-iraq/