US deploys ‘small team’ to Nigeria

The African country has requested “unique capabilities” from Washington to address its security challenges, AFRICOM chief General Dagvin Anderson has said

The US has deployed a “small team” of forces to Nigeria to support efforts against Islamist insurgents, the head of the US military command for Africa (AFRICOM) said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press briefing, AFRICOM commander General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, said the deployment followed discussions with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on strengthening counterterrorism cooperation in West Africa.

He said the US team “brings some unique capabilities from the United States in order to augment what Nigeria has been doing for several years.” 

Nigerian Defense Minister Christopher Musa confirmed that a team was operating in the country but gave no further details, Reuters reported.

This marks the first official acknowledgment of US troops on the ground in Africa’s most populous nation since Washington carried out airstrikes against Islamic State militants, including Boko Haram, in the country’s northwest on Christmas Day. It followed weeks of threats by US President Donald Trump over Abuja’s alleged failure to address a “genocide” of Christians.

READ MORE: Africa expert decodes Trump’s Nigeria rhetoric

Nigeria has been embroiled in a security crisis for more than a decade, driven by an insurgency led by Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), along with several other armed gangs.

The government has stepped up efforts to address the crisis, with security forces intensifying military operations against militant groups, while prosecutors have pursued terrorism-related cases linked to major attacks. On Monday, the authorities charged several suspects over a deadly assault in Benue State last June that killed about 150 people.

Abuja had previously rejected any unilateral military intervention on its soil. In December, however, it said it reached a bilateral security agreement with the Trump administration covering intelligence sharing and “other forms of support,” in line with respect for sovereignty.

Read more

On Tuesday, AFRICOM commander Gen. Anderson described Nigeria as “a great example of a very willing and capable partner who requested the unique capabilities that only the US can bring.” 

The move in Nigeria signals renewed US military interest in Africa, where AFRICOM’s former chief, General Michael Langley, said last year the unit was reassessing its presence amid declining influence.

His successor, Gen. Anderson, said he has been traveling across the continent, including to Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, Morocco, and Tunisia, to engage with partners on joint security efforts.