About 100 U.S. Troops Arrive In Nigeria To Train Soldiers
About 100 U.S. troops and equipment have landed in Nigeria to train soldiers after a government request, with Nigerian forces to retain command and the country facing a protracted fight with armed groups.
Overview
About 100 U.S. troops plus equipment have arrived in Nigeria to help train soldiers, the Nigerian military announced.
The arrival followed a request by the Nigerian government to the U.S. for training, technical support and intelligence-sharing, the military said in a statement.
Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba said the U.S. troops will not engage in combat and that Nigerian forces will have complete command authority.
Nigeria is facing a protracted fight with dozens of local armed groups, including Islamist sects and militants from the neighboring Sahel region.
Nigeria's military earlier said it expected around 200 more U.S. troops.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources report this story neutrally: they present official statements (Nigerian military announcement, Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba’s clarification that U.S. troops won’t engage combat), attribute contentious claims (Trump’s alleged-genocide comment) to actors, and include analysts’ caveats and UN casualty data, balancing competing perspectives without loaded language.
Sources (3)
FAQ
The United States has maintained a Status of Forces Agreement with Nigeria since 2000, which establishes the legal framework under which U.S. military personnel can operate in the country.[8] This agreement provides the formal basis for military cooperation and deployment of U.S. forces.
Over the past two decades, the U.S. has provided at least $1.5 billion in government-to-government foreign military sales and over $200 million in direct commercial sales, including a $593 million sale in 2017 of 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft.[4] Additionally, the U.S. provides training through the International Military Education and Training program, Africa Military Education Program, and Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership.[4]
Nigeria is facing threats from dozens of local armed groups, including Islamist sects and militants from the neighboring Sahel region, as well as groups linked to Boko Haram and Islamic State affiliates.[1] The deployment of U.S. personnel is specifically aimed at enhancing counterterrorism cooperation against these terrorist threats.[1]
Yes, the United States deployed special operations forces and unmanned aerial vehicles to Niger as part of Operation Juniper Shield to support counterterrorism operations.[2] The U.S. maintained a military presence in Niger for 11 years before withdrawing all 1,000 troops by August 2024 following a 2023 coup.[2]
The deployment follows a mutual agreement between Nigerian authorities and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) to enhance counterterrorism cooperation efforts.[1] The U.S. troops will provide training, technical support, and intelligence-sharing, with the Nigerian military retaining complete command authority and the U.S. personnel not engaging in combat operations.[1]
History
This story does not have any previous versions.