US Forces Combat in Niger is a Nightmare
August 11, 2023
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25:00Now PlayingUS Forces Combat in Niger is a Nightmare
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What are the goals and history of US military intervention in Niger? The first time most Americans heard of US operations in the west african country was when a group of US Army Special Forces were ambushed during a patrol on October 5th, 2017. The ambush near the village of Tongo Tongo was the deadliest incident for US forces in Africa since the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu. As a result the American public was both confused and outraged at the lack of information about US military missions on the African continent.
Written by: Chris Cappy & Diego Aceituno
Video Edited by: Michael Michaelides
This prompted a series of congressional inquiries and a Department of Defense investigation. These have had lasting consequences that reach all the way to the events unfolding in Niger today. The reports ended up blaming the individual soldiers and lower levels of command instead of higher ups taking responsibility. So what really happened in Niger? Why was the Pentagon accused of lying about the incident? Was there a CIA cover up? And why were over 800 US troops even in Niger in the first place? What were American interests were they really protecting? I’m your average infantryman Chris Cappy you're watching Task & Purpose let's analyze that.
Niger is a large landlocked country in West Africa that is home to over 25 million people. 80% of the country is covered by the Sahara desert which means most of the population live in the Sahel. The Sahel This is a narrow band of transitional desert-savanna climate along the south that crosses through Niger and its neighboring countries. The dry landscape and frequent droughts make for a harsh environment. This has led to the country having the unfortunate distinction of ranking highest in the world on the UN Poverty Index. Niger is a former French colony that gained independence in 1960, but government instability, corruption, and ethnic divisions made for a rocky 50 year period. This all culminated in a military coup in 2010 that returned the country to some semblance of parliamentary democracy for a period.
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