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U.S. Military Deployment to Cameroon


Chadian troops participate with the U.S. military and its Western partners in an annual training exercise. (File)
Chadian troops participate with the U.S. military and its Western partners in an annual training exercise. (File)

On October 12, 2015, approximately 90 U.S. military personnel began deploying to Cameroon as part of continued U.S. support for the efforts of Cameroon and the other countries of the Lake Chad Basin to counter Boko Haram.

On October 12, 2015, approximately 90 U.S. military personnel began deploying to Cameroon as part of continued U.S. support for the efforts of Cameroon and the other countries of the Lake Chad Basin to counter Boko Haram.

U.S. Military Deployment to Cameroon
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This deployment, which has the consent and support of the Government of Cameroon, bolsters U.S. support of airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations to support our African partners as they counter Boko Haram. The total number of U.S. military personnel to be deployed to Cameroon is anticipated to be up to approximately 300.

The deployed personnel will support Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, or ISR, flights being conducted in the area. The results of these ISR flights will better enable African partners to secure their borders against Boko Haram. Information collected by these unarmed remotely piloted aircraft will support regional operations against this and other terrorist threats.

These deployed U.S. personnel, as White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said, “will be part of a broader regional effort to stop the spread of Boko Haram and other violent extremist organizations in West Africa.”

“When the President traveled to Africa earlier this year, he talked about how important it was for Africa -- the nations of Africa to pursue a regional approach to the threat that is posed by Boko Haram,” said Mr. Earnest.“And what the United States has done is try to offer some of the unique capabilities that we have in the United States military to assist that regional effort.”​

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