Why Proposed US Troop Cuts in Africa Cause Concern

 

United States military officials warn that Islamic militants² are using news of possible American military cuts in Africa to call for more attacks against U.S. interests.

Earlier this month, the Islamic extremist group al-Shabab killed three Americans in an attack that destroyed U.S. military aircraft in Kenya.

It was the deadliest attack against the U.S. military in Africa since 2017. After the attack, al-Shabab sent a message to African soldiers. The group claimed that the U.S. would abandon them like it abandoned the Kurds in Syria.

This has caused a rare moment of agreement between both major American political parties. Lawmakers are criticizing the cuts. 

Experts say it is not a good time to reduce the U.S. military presence in Africa. In a new report, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies said extremist groups increased their activity in 2019. It reported an estimated 10,400 killings³ linked to militant¹ Islamists took place last year. Researchers added that increase is two times higher than in 2013.

The U.S. Africa Command has signaled that it is concerned about the proposed cuts. It said leaders of al-Shabab have called on followers⁴ to attack Americans wherever they are.

The U.S. Defense⁵ Department's possible reduction of U.S. troops in Africa is part of a worldwide reexamination by Defense Secretary Mark Esper. He wants defense officials to pay more attention to China and Russia. It is not known when a decision will be announced. But officials say Esper has made clear that the U.S. will not withdraw from Africa completely.

The U.S. has about 5,200 Africa Command members, troops and others, on the continent, and about 800 other Department of Defense workers.

France warns about withdrawal⁶

French President Emanuel Macron held a conference with West African leaders in Pau, France, this month about the issue. Attendees discussed measures against Islamic extremism. The group confirmed the need for U.S. military support in the Sahel, the area south of the Sahara Desert. Groups linked to al-Qaida and IS, have already moved closer to heavily populated coastal⁷ cities there in Ghana and Ivory Coast.

The French are increasing their military support in West Africa. This month France announced that it is adding to its 4,500 troops in the Sahel. Last month, France also carried out its first armed drone attack there.

"If the Americans were to decide to withdraw from Africa, it would be bad news for us. I confirm it," French President Emmanuel Macron said at the conference.

The U.S. considers the French military very important in the Sahel. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has suggested that the Sahel is the next area of importance for the global coalition⁸ against IS.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers have warned the Trump⁹ administration against cutting U.S. military support in Africa. 

"Any withdrawal or reduction would likely result in a surge in violent extremist attacks on the continent and beyond," senators Lindsey Graham and Chris Coons wrote to the defense secretary last week.

The al-Shabab attack in Kenya got little international attention because it took place around the time that the U.S. killed the military commander of Iran's Quds Force. But the January fifth attack was notable as al-Shabab's first against U.S. forces in Kenya, East Africa's economic center.

The U.S. has identified the Americans killed as U.S. Army soldier Henry J. Mayfield, Jr and U.S. contractors¹⁰ Bruce Triplett and Dustin Harrison. A statement said an investigation¹¹ is continuing and additional troop protection has been put in place.

William Gayler is the U.S. Africa Command director of operations. Recently, he told reporters that a very small U.S. force was able to defend against the al-Shabab attackers and move them away from the airfield¹². But the extremist group declared its attack a victory, releasing images of masked fighters standing¹³ next to burning aircraft.

The Trump administration has increased U.S. attention on al-Shabab in Somalia. The military said it carried out 63 airstrikes against the group last year and killed more than 320 fighters.

U.S. officials, however, have expressed concern about another possible military withdrawal that could affect East Africa. That is the planned withdrawal of nearly 20,000 African Union forces from Somalia by next year. Somali forces are meant to take over security but are widely seen as not ready.

Words in This Story

abandon –v. to leave and never return to someone who needs protection or help

continent –n.one of the great divisions of land, such as North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, or Antarctica, of the Earth

drone –n. a type of small aircraft that flies without a pilot

global –adj. involving the entire world

mercenaries –n. soldiers who will fight for any group or country that hires them

cooperation – n. a situation in which people work together to do something

surge –n. a sudden, large increase

1 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

2 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

3 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

4 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

5 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

6 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

7 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

8 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

9 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

10 contractors   

n.（建筑、监造中的）承包人( contractor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后，接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Contractors winning construction jobs had to kick back 2 per cent of the contract price to the mafia. 赢得建筑工作的承包商得抽出合同价格的百分之二的回扣给黑手党。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

12 airfield   

n.飞机场

参考例句：

• The foreign guests were motored from the airfield to the hotel.用车把外宾从机场送到旅馆。
• The airfield was seized by enemy troops.机场被敌军占领。

13 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。