“It is believed that the operation was part of the counter-terror mission that has been ongoing in Niger and was in the region north of Niamey.”
Three United States Special Forces soldiers were killed and two were wounded in the African country of Niger on Wednesday in an apparent ambush. US Africa Command, or AFRICOM, has confirmed the deaths of the Green Berets in Niger but did not provide details about the operation they were conducting. The incident has raised questions about the presence of US forces in Niger and many are wondering why the Green Berets were in a situation that would bring them into contact with hostile forces.
What is known about the operation the Green Berets were conducting at the time of the incident is that they were on an advise and assist mission with Niger security forces and troops from a coalition partner nation when the group came under small arms fire. It is believed that the operation was part of the counter-terror mission that has been ongoing in Niger and was in the region north of Niamey.
About Niger
Niger is a landlocked country in western Africa that borders Libya, Chad, Nigeria, and Mali. It is a democratic, multi-party state and maintains positive relations with both Western and Islamic countries. Islam is the dominant religion in Niger, with about eighty percent of the population practicing. The majority are Sunni. The capital city is Niamey where the US maintains a base of operations for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at an air base there. The drones (UAVs) are mostly unarmed and primarily conduct surveillance and intelligence collection missions.
Operation Enduring Freedom – Trans Sahara (OEF-TS) remains an ongoing military operation being conducted by US and coalition forces in central Africa
Weapons have flooded Niger and other central African countries since the fall of Moammar Gaddafi’s regime in Libya in 2011. Extremist groups have benefited heavily from the influx of weapons and have used them to increase the number of attacks against security forces in Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Algeria, and Chad in recent years. Ungoverned patches of these countries have provided excellent refuge for terrorists and extremists, and attacks in the region have increased because of these factors. The border area between Mali and Niger in particular remains a concern for AFRICOM commanders as weapons and fighters have had significant freedom to maneuver there.
US Presence in Niger
As part of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) that began in September 2001, Operation Enduring Freedom – Trans Sahara (OEF-TS) remains an ongoing military operation being conducted by US and coalition forces in central Africa. The other OEF mission is Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa (OEF-HOA). OEF-TS is primarily a training mission, with US forces assisting ten nations to combat insurgents in the region. Among these nations is Niger, where Islamic extremist groups such as Boko Haram, al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), al-Shabaab, and the Islamic State have been active.
It’s unlikely that the administration of President Donald Trump will alter the strategy that previous administrations have implemented for the United States to train and advise security forces in Africa. There are currently around 900 US troops in Niger and a new drone base is under construction in Agadez. It is expected to be completed next year and will allow US drones to fly much closer to Libya, where operations continue to target the Islamic State.
