The Americans will strengthen military aid to Nigeria, where, in addition to advisory activities, they will also provide intelligence for airstrikes. The new American contingent is due to arrive in the coming weeks.
The United States will send 200 troops to Nigeria to train its armed forces to fight jihadist groups. This was announced on Tuesday by representatives of the US and the West African country with which Washington is strengthening military cooperation. TASR informs about it according to the AFP agency.
- The US will send 200 soldiers to train Nigeria’s army
- The Americans will help in the fight against jihadists
- Washington and Abuja increase military cooperation despite disputes
- US troops will not participate in direct combat or operations
“We are getting American soldiers to help with training and technical support,” Nigerian army spokesman Major General Samaila Uba told AFP. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) was the first to report on the deployment of soldiers, stating that the new contingent will strengthen a smaller team of American soldiers who are already helping with the targeting of airstrikes in Nigeria. Another 200 soldiers are expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
Nigeria is under diplomatic pressure from the United States, whose President Donald Trump says there is persecution and “genocide” of Christians in the country. Abuja rejects accusations of persecution of Christians. Independent analysts point to a broader failure of the state to stem the violence of jihadists and armed gangs in poorly governed rural areas. Trump’s adviser on Arab and African affairs, Massad Boulos, said last year that Boko Haram and Islamic State “kill more Muslims than Christians.”
They continue to work together
Despite the disputes, both countries are increasing military cooperation. In December, the US carried out an air attack on militants in the state of Sokoto in the northwest of the country in a joint operation with Nigeria. The US military has announced it will provide intelligence for Nigerian airstrikes and speed up arms purchases.
The deployment of 200 troops will expand Washington’s involvement, but U.S. troops will not participate in direct combat or operations, Uba told the WSJ. According to him, Nigeria has requested additional assistance.
Africa’s most populous country is fighting a long-running jihadist insurgency largely in its northeast, while in the northwest gangs of “bandits” who are not motivated by ideology are kidnapping people for ransom and looting villages. In the central part of the country, there is violence between predominantly Christian farmers and Muslim herders, but according to analysts, their cause is not religion, but access to dwindling land and resources.
