General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, the seventh commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), has described the safety partnership between Nigeria and the United States as sturdy and productive, citing the affect of joint counterterrorism efforts, together with a reported enhance of greater than 200 per cent in ISIS defections following a May 2026 operation. In an unique interview with THISDAY on the sidelines of the simply concluded Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) 2026 in Lagos, General Anderson mentioned the positive factors from intelligence sharing and operational cooperation between the 2 international locations, the necessity to strengthen regional safety collaboration and the significance of addressing governance and growth challenges alongside army operations within the battle in opposition to terrorism. Chiemelie Ezeobi brings excerpts:
How would you assess the present safety partnership between the United States and Nigeria, notably within the battle in opposition to terrorism, insurgency and banditry?
I assume we’ve bought an exceptionally good relationship proper now, and we’ve been in a position to work collectively very nicely. I do know probably the most public operation was what occurred in May, however the partnership with the Nigerian Armed Forces and Nigerian intelligence was distinctive, and that’s what actually enabled that partnership to occur and to take out the quantity two terrorist on the earth for ISIS, and doubtless probably the most energetic terrorists on the earth.
And that, to me, the significance of that’s the affect that’s had on the worldwide ISIS community, after which the continued partnership that we’ve been in a position to construct with Nigeria afterwards, and the unimaginable operations that Nigeria has continued to prosecute in opposition to ISIS post-operation.
So I believe proper now, the connection could be very sturdy, and I stay up for persevering with to develop it.
What particular help is the United States offering Nigeria to fight Boko Haram, ISWAP and different terrorist teams working within the North-East and North-West?
So actually, we have a look at what are these distinctive capabilities that the United States can carry. So a few of it’s intelligence, but in addition understanding of the terrorist community globally. And so Nigeria brings the regional and native understanding, whereas we carry the worldwide community understanding, and collectively that turns into very highly effective.
And then there’s some specialised capabilities that the U.S. will help present, after which simply the expertise. We’ve been combating terrorism for over 20 years. We’ve discovered lots about find out how to combine intelligence and operations, and find out how to make these operations simpler.
And in order that’s actually what we’ve dropped at Nigeria, as a result of Nigeria has a really succesful {and professional} army. And so it’s been very straightforward for us to companion with them and have interaction in a really constructive means, after which have a look at some areas the place, from our expertise over a number of many years of combating terrorism, we will help with the coaching and experience for Nigeria.
But the last word objective is to assist Nigeria to maintain the problem and have the ability to defend their very own borders. And I believe what we carry is only a very small piece, but it surely’s an necessary piece.
Nigeria has obtained worldwide safety help for years, notably beneath the Trump administration. However, terrorism, banditry and mass kidnappings stay persistent threats. What, particularly, should change within the US–Nigeria safety partnership to ship extra tangible outcomes for Nigerians?
So, a few of it’s what we offer within the army is the safety basis and a number of the fundamental safety. But finally, for terrorism and insecurity, it must be an funding in governance, an funding in growth.
And to me, one of many issues we’re exploring is how will we discuss to commerce and business extra to take a look at what are these business alternatives that may create a market-driven growth that may create sustainable development and sustainable alternative?
And simply the demographics of everything of the continent and Nigeria, the variety of youth is rising quickly. And so how will we have a look at methods to create alternative so that they don’t have to show to terrorism or criminal activity?
And in order that’s probably not what we within the army do instantly. We will help with that safety basis to set circumstances for that stability, as a result of the soundness is what permits funding and eventual prosperity.
Given the evolving safety threats within the Sahel and the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from ECOWAS, how is AFRICOM working with Nigeria to stop terrorist teams from exploiting the regional safety gaps created by these withdrawals?
So, we’re persevering with to attempt to open dialogue with the AES states within the Sahel. So beforehand, we had superb relationships with Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
We want to reopen that dialogue as a result of we’ve a typical risk. I’m very heartened by what’s occurred lately in Senegal, the place ECOWAS and the AES states have met. I believe that dialogue goes to be important to carry them again into the fold of the West African group.
And then for AFRICOM, once more, what’s it we will carry that’s distinctive from the U.S. and have the ability to have interaction with these companions to assist present a number of the intelligence and understanding, after which to assist them with a number of the coaching as we’ve completed previously? So, I do assume there’s a possibility, however we have to reestablish the dialogue and communications first.
US army help to Nigeria covers intelligence-sharing, surveillance expertise, army gear and specialised coaching. Are there new areas of cooperation being thought of to assist Nigeria deal with rising insecurity within the North-West and North-Central areas, past the standard concentrate on the North-East?
Yes. So, the raid in May was within the North-East, in Borno State. That was within the Lake Chad Basin. And so we’ve been working with the Nigerian Armed Forces, actually, the place they see one of the best profit.
So the place we’ve been working is primarily up within the North-East and within the North-West. And then a part of it’s how will we have a look at the transit of the terrorists and interdict that? And so working with the native authorities as nicely to cease the circulation of terrorist exercise and motion.
Beyond operational help, what extra help can AFRICOM present to disrupt terrorist financing, arms trafficking and the motion of overseas fighters throughout Nigeria’s borders?
That’s a really troublesome problem. That is an enormous one, and that’s most likely probably the most important areas to take a look at: how will we lower off the financing or interdict that financing?
And so, once more, that is the place the partnership is de facto necessary, as a result of we perceive some issues from a worldwide scale and the way ISIS and al-Qaeda transfer their cash, and we’ve some cyber capabilities to take a look at that.
But then it’s actually understanding regionally how are they transferring the cash, how are they laundering the cash, or the place is that cash transferring? And in order that data sharing and that dialogue is totally important to begin interdicting and disrupting their funds.
In sensible phrases, we carry experience and understanding from throughout the worldwide enterprise. And then we’ve distinctive cyber instruments that we will apply to the worldwide networks. And then working with Nigeria to assist them intensify or enhance the affect of these capabilities right here regionally. So I believe it’s a two-fold effort.
Given Nigeria’s strategic place within the Gulf of Guinea, what extra help can AFRICOM present to the Nigerian Navy and different safety companies to sort out maritime insecurity, shield important offshore infrastructure and stop prison networks from exploiting the area’s waters?
So in maritime area consciousness, understanding what’s occurring out in not simply the territorial waters, however out within the financial zone, is I believe important.
We see many illicit actions occur on the market, from piracy to smuggling, to drug trafficking. We additionally see unlawful fishing and different issues which can be taking livelihoods away from the native populations.
So simply having an understanding of what’s occurring on the market, we expect is critically necessary.
We have, from the United States authorities, invested or helped make investments throughout West Africa in that maritime area consciousness, from maritime operation centres to radars, to additionally harnessing a number of the new applied sciences and instruments that may assist create an consciousness of what’s occurring in that house.
And then, when you perceive what’s in that house, what must be developed as a way to disrupt it or to interdict it? And then that’s the place we will companion with particular person nations to see what will be simplest.
How will the United States and Nigeria measure the effectiveness of their safety cooperation? Is there a mechanism for assessing progress, figuring out gaps and adjusting their joint technique when anticipated outcomes aren’t achieved?
Sometimes they’re simpler to measure, typically they’re tougher. But there’s a gamut, I believe. You have to look throughout completely different indicators to see if you happen to’re having success.
So one: what number of of us are becoming a member of these organisations?
The second, that we’ve seen because the operation in May, is over a 200 per cent enhance within the variety of defectors from ISIS.
So I believe that’s a measure of success, that folk are this and saying, “This organisation, I don’t want to be a part of it anymore.”
And the truth that Nigeria has a programme to carry them again into society and reintegrate them is necessary.
And so these are areas of success.
Obviously, discount in assaults and violence, discount in criminality—all of which can be indicators, however lots of these take time, they usually lag the precise occasions.
So I believe a part of it’s being affected person and understanding what are the issues we have to have a look at holistically, after which measure that success.
Looking forward, what measurable safety outcomes ought to Nigerians anticipate from the US–Nigeria defence partnership over the subsequent 12 months
I assume one of many issues we’ve actually, we’ve restricted sources at AFRICOM, and so how will we maximise these capabilities?
And it’s actually concentrating on these areas which have probably the most affect, primarily for what the threats are to our United States homeland, which is terrorism, after which discovering companions who’re keen and succesful.
And I believe that’s been one of many causes the connection with Nigeria has grown so nicely, is as a result of Nigeria has been very keen and really succesful to tackle this battle. And it’s just a bit little bit of assist from the United States in some key areas.
And so, to me, what will we anticipate? We anticipate companion nations to take that on and be keen to handle the risk.
But then I believe the opposite piece that we talked about earlier is not only the safety army aspect of it, however then the funding on the native stage in governance, in schooling, after which the financial alternatives that entice the youth away from the terrorists and the criminality into constructive enterprise and constructive nation-building.
You know, one of many issues right here in Lagos that’s been fairly spectacular to me is the power. And it’s in all places. And it’s this very entrepreneurial spirit that could be very American, no less than I see it, proper, as American.
But we see it right here, and one of many issues I had discovered is “Lagos dey bubble.” And I had not heard that earlier than, however Lagos is at all times effervescent, it’s at all times churning.
Like New York. There’s power like New York. And so somebody informed me, they mentioned, “Well, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.”
And so I believe a part of it’s Nigeria has bought an enormous quantity of alternative and potential. How do you harness it, and the way do you channel that into constructive efforts?
And so this is among the issues that, , what do you anticipate from Africa, from African companions, is that this power. How do you are taking the rising youth inhabitants and channel that power for a constructive effort? And to me, that’s what all of us have to work on, but it surely must be completed regionally.
So, these expectations, does it additionally contain coaching for our personnel?
Basically, what Nigeria requests, we have a look at having the ability to present. There is a few coaching. We did present some coaching earlier in ISR and in focusing on. We will proceed to work the place we will to offer focused coaching for Nigerian forces.
About General Anderson
General Dagvin R.M. Anderson is the seventh commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, chargeable for main U.S. army operations and actions throughout Africa to guard and advance American nationwide pursuits.
Before assuming command, he served as Director for Joint Force Development on the Joint Staff on the Pentagon. His earlier assignments embrace Vice Director of Operations on the Joint Staff; Commander of Special Operations Command-Africa; Deputy Director for Operations at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command; Special Assistant to the Commander and Director of the Commander’s Strategic Initiative Group for United Nations Command-Combined Forces Command-U.S. Forces Korea; Senior Aviation Advisor for Counter-Terrorism Operations on the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict; and Deputy Director of the Commander’s Action Group at U.S. Special Operations Command.
A command pilot with greater than 3,400 flight hours, together with 738 fight hours, he has commanded at 5 echelons, together with Joint Task Force Quartz, which oversaw the repositioning of U.S. forces from Somalia. His tutorial honours embrace fellowships at Harvard University and Masaryk University within the Czech Republic.
