Senators fret over unseen US enemy

US politicians are voicing concern over America’s growing military presence across Africa, where they worry the Pentagon is getting ever more embroiled in a secretive campaign against a shifting enemy.

Last month’s killing of four US soldiers in a Niger ambush has thrust the issue into the spotlight, with lawmakers calling for greater transparency on what is going on in Africa.

“The footprint in Africa is much bigger than the American public understands,” Democratic Senator Tim Kaine said this week.

The Niger ambush has also rekindled debate over the legal authorities the Pentagon uses to fight jihadist groups overseas.

Defence Secretary Jim Mattis this week faced lawmakers’ questions on these warfighting powers. “The tragedy in Niger, the loss of four American soldiers, helped focus us on the fact that we’ve got citizens and we’ve got senators who are unclear on exactly where in the world we are engaged against this morphing, changing enemy in a new era of skirmishes,” Democratic Senator Chris Coons said.

Officially, the Pentagon’s missions across Africa are primarily to “train, advise and assist” African militaries to help nations stand up to various Islamist groups. But in reality, as demonstrated in Niger, the US role sometimes goes beyond this. –