The United States government says it has strengthened its military partnership with Nigeria with the deployment of a special U.S. force team to assist in flushing out terrorists operating in the country.

 

The Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), Gen. Dagvin Anderson, disclosed this on Tuesday during a digital news conference, saying the move was part of broader efforts to deepen security cooperation between both countries.

 

According to Anderson, the decision followed high-level talks he held in Rome with President Bola Tinubu, after which the Nigerian leader approved U.S. airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day against Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists in Nigeria.

 

He said both leaders agreed on the need for closer coordination to confront terrorism decisively in Nigeria and across the ECOWAS sub-region.

 

“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,” Anderson said.

 

“We assist 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 to counter these threats.

 

“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations to include a small U.S. team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States in order to augment what Nigeria has been doing for several years.”

 

The AFRICOM commander did not disclose details about the size or composition of the U.S. special force team but confirmed that it is already operating in Nigeria.

 

Anderson stressed that success in counterterrorism was guaranteed wherever the United States finds a capable and willing partner, such as Nigeria, that can effectively integrate U.S. intelligence and operational support.

 

“We’re looking at working in West Africa. I think a great example of that is the partnership we’ve had with Nigeria,” he said.

 

“My deputy was there just recently with a high-level delegation from the State Department, led by Allison Hooker, in order to look at how we can continue to move forward together.”

 

He warned that West Africa and the Sahel were currently facing increasing pressure from terrorist groups, including Daesh (ISIS), al-Qaida, and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).

 

“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 coastal countries,” Anderson said.

 

He noted that his recent visits to countries along the Gulf of Guinea underscored shared regional concerns as terrorism threats continue to expand.

 

According to him, AFRICOM’s counterterrorism strategy prioritises close coordination with African partner nations.

 

“We will continue to engage with willing partners to address this common threat as we look across the region. Being able to counter these threats together, I think, has been, and is critical to our future,” he said.

 

Beyond West Africa, Anderson said AFRICOM remains actively engaged in other parts of the continent. He cited Somalia, where ISIS has emerged as a major threat alongside al-Shabab, the al-Qaida–linked group that has dominated the insurgency for over two decades.

 

“ISIS-Somalia fighters holed up in a remote mountain range in northern Somalia have been a frequent target for AFRICOM airstrikes,” he said.

 

“The airstrike campaign, combined with surveillance and logistics support, has enabled AFRICOM’s Somali partners to carry out an offensive against the insurgents.

 

“It’s collapsed the area that ISIS has been able to operate in and is quite literally keeping them and ISIS leadership underground.”

 

The U.S. Air Force general also announced that the United States would host its largest joint military exercise spanning Africa, Europe and the Middle East, tagged African Lion 2026, in Morocco in May.

 

He said the exercise would involve 19 African countries, six European forces, and several others from the Middle East and Latin America, bringing participation to more than 30 military forces.

 

According to Anderson, the exercise, which coincides with the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, would demonstrate the scale of multilateral cooperation on security across the African continent.