The U.S. has dispatched a small team of troops to Nigeria, the commander of U.S. forces in Africa announced Tuesday, as Washington looks to curb violence against religious minorities in the region.
The announcement comes just over a month after President Trump ordered airstrikes on what he said were Islamic State targets in Nigeria on Christmas Day. Following the bombing, Mr. Trump said there could be further U.S. military action there if violence against Christians continued.
The December strikes were carried out with support from the Nigerian government and reportedly killed several ISIS terrorists.
Air Force Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson, head of U.S. Africa Command, told reporters that the troop deployment was made possible following conversations with Nigerian leaders and that both nations agreed that further teamwork would combat terrorism there.
Prior to the announcement, the U.S. maintained approximately 6,500 troops across Africa, according to U.S. Africa Command. Most, roughly 3,500, are located at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, Pentagon officials said.
“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations to include a small U.S. team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States,” Gen. Anderson said without providing details on what the troops will be doing in Nigeria.
Mr. Trump and his allies have repeatedly called on Nigeria to combat Islamic terrorists more aggressively to protect Christian communities. Several international observers argue that rebel groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have intensified their attacks against Christian civilians over the past decade.
Nigerian officials have argued that the country is working to combat violence from Islamic terror groups and no systemic targeting of Christians exists there.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
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