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U.S. military may close some Africa units

A Nigerian soldier asks a question about urban-assault tactics while participating in Exercise Flintlock 2018 in Agadez, Niger. Flintlock aims to strengthen regional security through integrated military and law-enforcement training. (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 (SW/AW) Evan Parker)
A Nigerian soldier asks a question about urban-assault tactics while participating in Exercise Flintlock 2018 in Agadez, Niger. Flintlock aims to strengthen regional security through integrated military and law-enforcement training. (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 (SW/AW) Evan Parker)

The United States has military outposts and 1,200 special forcesin many parts of Africa, and about 6,000 military personnel overall on the continent, the majority (nearly 4,000) of which are at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti.

Now, following the killing of four U.S. soldiers battling Islamist militants in Niger in 2017, the Defense Department is considering shutting down operations in Cameroon, Kenya, Libya and Tunisia.

The Pentagon has admitted the servicemen’s deaths were due to failure on its part. Its new plan is to end most elite counterterrorism units on the continent, and take almost all U.S. commandos out of Niger.

The U.S. would still maintain a large military presence in Djibouti, Nigeria and Somalia.

Sources: Daily Nation (Kenya), Voice of America

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