US to train African soldiers
2005-06-30 11:32
Lagos - The United States (US) military said on Wednesday it sent a ship to Africa's oil-rich Gulf of Guinea to train West African nations to combat threats including terrorism, drug trafficking and petroleum theft.
The Coast Guard cutter USCG Bear, which is attached to the US Sixth Fleet based in Italy, arrived last week with 100 sailors on board and will be in the Gulf of Guinea for about one month, said US military spokesperson lieutenant David Luckett by telephone from Naples.
US officials have proposed tighter security arrangements with nations alongside the Gulf of Guinea, which holds as much as 10% of world oil reserves.
"The aim of this operation is to help the countries within the region to work closely together to enhance their own security," Luckett said. Threats include "piracy, illegal fishing, illegal trafficking of drugs" and "terrorism", he said.
He added the deployment would help "regional navies better secure their own resources".
Mum on future operations
Luckett would not say which countries would be involved in the training exercises, saying the US military does not give out details on future operations.
The exercise is separate from Operation Flintlock, the name for US-led, joint military exercises aimed at combating terrorism. Operation Flintlock exercises are currently being conducted by US European Command in North and West Africa.
Last year, a US Congress-commissioned report estimated the US may be importing 20% of its oil from West and Central African nations within 10 years, up from 15% now.
- AP