Nigeria Is US Willing Partner – AFRICOM Commander

The United States has described Nigeria as a “willing partner” in addressing threats of terrorism in the Sahel region.

The Commander, U.S. Africa Command General Dagvin R.M. Anderson stated this at a digital press briefing on Tuesday.

He said the US sees clearly the growing threat from both Daesh and al-Qaida as an issue.

He said, “We’re seeing them apply more pressure in those areas, especially across the Sahel, threatening the capitals in the region, spilling down into some of the other countries.”

General Anderson reiterated that the US was willing to collaborate with West African leaders to address threats

He noted that, having travelled to several countries along the Gulf of Guinea, he understands the shared concerns that this threat continues to expand.

He, however, assured that the US will continue to engage with willing partners to address this common threat.

He said, “Our partnership with Nigeria is a great example of a very willing and capable partner who requested the unique capabilities that only the U.S. can bring – with some of the ISR, some of the intelligence fusion – to bring that to bear together.

“And when we do that, we are much more effective in counteracting these threats.  And being able to counter these threats together, I think, has been – is critical to our future.  And so while there are many nations that are concerned with this, when we can find a capable, willing partner to work with and we can fuse the unique capabilities that the U.S. brings, we have seen success in addressing these threats,”.

He said his meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has led to increased collaboration between our nations, including a small U.S. team that brings unique capabilities to augment what Nigeria has been doing for several years. And I think we’ve had some really good, positive movement there.

Also speaking was the Command Senior Enlisted Leader, U.S. Africa Command, on AFRICOM Priorities on the African Continent, Sergeant Major Garric M. Banfield, who emphasised the United States’ readiness to work with willing partners to get after shared security concerns.

He said instability in stable areas serves as a hospitable environment for extremist and terrorist organisations

“I believe strongly that security – a secure environment leads to a stable environment, and that’s where it branches off from an area that’s hospitable to terrorists and VEOs and goes towards an area that adds investment and prosperity for both the African nation and the United States,”.