US govt sends troops to fight Boko Haram

Troops

As part of its assistance to combat terror of Boko Haram in Nigeria and parts of West Africa, the United States Government will be sending 300 troops and surveillance drones to Africa.

This was contained in a notification by President Obama to Congress, that an advance force of about 90 military personnel had begun deploying on Monday to Cameroon, with the consent of the Yaounde government.

“The troops will be based in Cameroun, United States officials said Wednesday. The troops will conduct airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations in the region,” Obama said.

According to him, “These forces are equipped with weapons for the purpose of providing their own force protection and security, and they will remain in Cameroon until their support is no longer needed.

The agency report added that, U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the troops would provide intelligence to a multi-national task force being set up to fight Boko Haram and composed of troops from Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, Chad and Benin.

The American officials said the U.S. soldiers would deploy initially to the city of Garoua in northern Cameroon, not far from the Nigerian border. The force will include Predator drones for surveillance, they said.

The White House said the move was not in response to any changed assessment of threat in the region.

The United States has no combat troops in Africa, but has been increasing support to allies in the region battling Boko Haram.