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US increases military operations in Africa

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 19, 2013 3:4PM GMT

The United States has stepped up its military activity in Africa in recent months, with more training of regional militaries in the continent, increased air strikes and a steady stream of drone surveillance.

Thousands of US soldiers are now gearing up for missions in Africa as part of a new Pentagon strategy to train and advise indigenous forces, the New York Times reports.

The first-of-its-kind program is drawing on troops from a 3,500-member brigade from the Army's First Infantry Division to conduct more than 100 missions in Africa over the next year, the newspaper said.

In addition to training African militaries, the US has been launching a massive build-up of troops into Italy, putting 13,000 troops in the nation to be able to launch raids into Africa, particularly northern Africa, at a moment's notice.

There is also a growing constellation of small US drone outposts in countries like Niger, Ethiopia, and Djibouti, strategically placed on the Gulf of Aden.

"I don't see a pivot (towards Africa)," said John Campbell, a former ambassador to Nigeria and senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. "I think what it does represent is a militarization of policy towards Africa. And it's just sort of happening willy-nilly."

"The focus is very narrow," Campbell said. "Part of the problem is a remarkable lack of sophistication about what is going on in Africa and that in turn affects things like the reduction in diplomatic staff and the closure of consulates over the years."

With the launch of Africa Command or AFRICOM in October of 2008, US foreign policy toward the continent has been militarized with policy makers increasingly viewing Africa through a military lens, Campbell said.

The US's recent commando raids in Africa, including an October 5 operation when US Special Forces kidnapped Abu Anas al-Libi on the streets of the Libyan capital, Tripoli in broad daylight, have some analysts floating the idea that the US could be developing a strategic swing toward Africa.

AHT/HJ