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 influence 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 aspects from intelligence sharing and operational cooperation between the 2 nations, the necessity to strengthen regional safety collaboration and the significance of addressing governance and improvement challenges alongside army operations within the struggle 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 struggle in opposition to terrorism, insurgency and banditry?
I suppose we’ve bought an exceptionally good relationship proper now, and we’ve been capable of work collectively very effectively. 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 this planet for ISIS, and possibly some of the lively terrorists on this planet.
And that, to me, the significance of that’s the influence that’s had on the worldwide ISIS community, after which the continued partnership that we’ve been capable of 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 sit 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 take a look at what are these distinctive capabilities that the United States can deliver. 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 deliver 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 delivered to Nigeria, as a result of Nigeria has a really succesful {and professional} army. And so it’s been very simple for us to companion with them and interact in a really constructive method, after which take 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 final word objective is to assist Nigeria to deal with the problem and have the ability to defend their very own borders. And I believe what we deliver is only a very small piece, nevertheless it’s an necessary piece.
Nigeria has acquired worldwide safety help for years, notably below 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 primary safety. But in the end, for terrorism and insecurity, it must be an funding in governance, an funding in improvement.
And to me, one of many issues we’re exploring is how can we discuss to commerce and trade extra to have a look at what are these industrial alternatives that may create a market-driven improvement that may create sustainable development and sustainable alternative?
And simply the demographics of the whole thing of the continent and Nigeria, the variety of youth is rising quickly. And so how can we take a look at methods to create alternative in order that they don’t have to show to terrorism or criminality?
And in order that’s probably not what we within the army do straight. 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 forestall 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 excellent relationships with Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
We want to reopen that dialogue as a result of now we have a typical menace. 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 vital to deliver them again into the fold of the West African neighborhood.
And then for AFRICOM, once more, what’s it we will deliver that’s distinctive from the U.S. and have the ability to interact 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 prior to now? So, I do suppose 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 tools and specialised coaching. Are there new areas of cooperation being thought of to assist Nigeria handle rising insecurity within the North-West and North-Central areas, past the normal 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 the very 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 can we take a look at the transit of the terrorists and interdict that? And so working with the native authorities as effectively to cease the circulate of terrorist exercise and motion.
Beyond operational help, what further help can AFRICOM present to disrupt terrorist financing, arms trafficking and the motion of international fighters throughout Nigeria’s borders?
That’s a really tough problem. That is a giant one, and that’s most likely some of the vital areas to have a look at: how can we minimize off the financing or interdict that financing?
And so, once more, that is the place the partnership is admittedly necessary, as a result of we perceive some issues from a world scale and the way ISIS and al-Qaeda transfer their cash, and now we have some cyber capabilities to have a look at that.
But then it’s actually understanding regionally how are they shifting the cash, how are they laundering the cash, or the place is that cash shifting? And in order that info sharing and that dialogue is completely vital to begin interdicting and disrupting their funds.
In sensible phrases, we deliver experience and understanding from throughout the worldwide enterprise. And then now we have distinctive cyber instruments that we will apply to the worldwide networks. And then working with Nigeria to assist them intensify or enhance the influence 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 further help can AFRICOM present to the Nigerian Navy and different safety businesses to deal with maritime insecurity, shield vital 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 vital.
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 are taking livelihoods away from the native populations.
So simply having an understanding of what’s occurring on the market, we predict 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 area.
And then, when you perceive what’s in that area, 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 could be only.
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 are usually not achieved?
Sometimes they’re simpler to measure, typically they’re more durable. But there’s a gamut, I believe. You must look throughout completely different indicators to see for those who’re having success.
So one: what number of people are becoming a member of these organisations?
The second, that we’ve seen for the reason that 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 people are taking a look at 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 deliver 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 are indicators, however a number 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 take 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 suppose one of many issues now we have actually, now we have restricted assets at AFRICOM, and so how can we maximise these capabilities?
And it’s actually concentrating on these areas which have probably the most influence, 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 effectively, is as a result of Nigeria has been very keen and really succesful to tackle this struggle. And it’s just a bit little bit of assist from the United States in some key areas.
And so, to me, what can we anticipate? We anticipate companion nations to take that on and be keen to deal with the menace.
But then I believe the opposite piece that we talked about earlier isn’t just the safety army facet 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 vitality. And it’s all over the place. And it’s this very entrepreneurial spirit that could be very American, at the very least 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 vitality like New York. And so somebody informed me, they stated, “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 without doubt one of the issues that, you already know, what do you anticipate from Africa, from African companions, is that this vitality. How do you’re taking the rising youth inhabitants and channel that vitality for a constructive effort? And to me, that’s what all of us must work on, nevertheless it must be completed regionally.
So, these expectations, does it additionally contain coaching for our personnel?
Basically, what Nigeria requests, we take a look at with the ability to present. There is a few coaching. We did present some coaching earlier in ISR and in concentrating on. We will proceed to work the place we will to supply 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, answerable 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.
