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What Is America's Military Mission In Africa?

Niger's soldiers patrol near Bosso on June 17, 2016 following attacks by Boko Haram fighters in the region.

U.S. soldiers are stationed across the continent of Africa to help countries fight terrorism before large numbers of American troops are needed, according to White House chief of staff Gen. John Kelly.
ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP/Getty Images
Niger's soldiers patrol near Bosso on June 17, 2016 following attacks by Boko Haram fighters in the region. U.S. soldiers are stationed across the continent of Africa to help countries fight terrorism before large numbers of American troops are needed, according to White House chief of staff Gen. John Kelly.

White House chief of staff General John Kelly says America’s mission in Africa is clear.

“They’re helping those partners be better at fighting ISIS in Africa so we don’t have to send large numbers of troops.”

But after four soldiers were killed in a recent ambush attack in Niger, an investigation is underway into how and why they died.

What exactly are American troops doing in Africa today? And is it working?

GUESTS

Eric Schmitt, National security correspondent, The New York Times; @EricSchmittNYT

Bisa Williams, U.S. ambassador to Niger in the Obama administration; former deputy assistant secretary at the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs; managing director of the consulting firm WSA Strategy Advisors;

Richard Downie, Deputy director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies

For more, visit https://the1a.org.

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