What You Need to Know
The United States has initiated surveillance flights over Nigeria since late November, according to Reuters. This move follows President Trump’s threats of military intervention due to violence against Christian communities. The operations are believed to be managed from Ghana, utilizing aircraft contracted by a Mississippi-based company.
Africa. The United States has initiated surveillance flights over large parts of Nigeria since late November, according to data from flight tracking and American sources.
The nature of the information being targeted remains unclear, but these operations follow President Donald Trump’s threats of military intervention in Nigeria, accusing the authorities there of failing to “stop the violence against Christian communities.”
Flight tracking data indicates that the aircraft used for these missions, operated by a contracted American company, typically departs from the Ghanaian capital, Accra, and flies over Nigerian territory before returning to Ghana.
The operating company is identified as Tenax Aerospace, based in Mississippi, specializing in providing aircraft for special missions in cooperation with the US military.
Liam Carr, head of the Africa team at the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, stated that the operation appears to be managed from Accra Airport, a known hub for supporting US military logistics in Africa.
Carr considers this step an indication of Washington rebuilding its capabilities in the region after withdrawing from a military base in Niger last year due to Niamey’s shift towards security cooperation with Russia, saying, “We have seen a resumption of reconnaissance and surveillance flights in Nigeria over the past few weeks.”
A former US official confirmed that the aircraft is part of assets transferred by the Trump administration to Ghana last November, and that the missions include tracking an American pilot who was working in Niger and was kidnapped there, as well as gathering information on active armed groups in Nigeria, “notably Boko Haram and ISIS in West Africa.”
The US Department of Defense stated in a statement that it has held “constructive” meetings with Nigeria following Trump’s message, but declined to discuss details. Meanwhile, there has been no comment from the Nigerian military or Ghanaian authorities as of yet.
The United States has historically engaged in military and intelligence operations in Africa, particularly in response to threats from extremist groups. Following the withdrawal from a military base in Niger, the US appears to be re-establishing its presence in the region, focusing on intelligence gathering to combat groups like Boko Haram and ISIS in West Africa.
The recent increase in surveillance flights indicates a shift in US strategy, aiming to bolster security partnerships in Nigeria amidst rising violence. The US has previously expressed concerns over the Nigerian government’s ability to address these threats, leading to heightened military scrutiny and potential intervention.
