The U.S. Military In Africa: A Discreet Presence In Many Places
The military has some 20 missions across the continent. Most are not combat operations. But the deaths of four soldiers in Niger illustrate the dangers as the U.S. troops venture into the field.
When U.S. troops were ambushed in Niger on Oct. 4, the widespread reaction was surprise. The U.S. has military forces in Niger? What are they doing there?
Yet in many ways, the Niger operation typifies U.S. military missions underway in roughly 20 African countries, mostly in the northern third of the continent. They tend to be small, they are carried out largely below the radar, and most are focused on a specific aim:
