There is no doubt that the US relishes its self-acclaimed position as the world’s policeman. American leaders seem bent to throw all necessary resources into the war against terrorism around the globe. The US has given Cameroon two military aircraft to assist in the fight against Boko Haram militants. This is in addition to armored vehicles, US experts training the Africans on landmine detection and the presence of US Marines in that country.
The two planes, according to Cameroun’s Defense Minister, Joseph Assomo, are specialized in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Each of the C208 aircraft possesses in-built cameras that could capture images from the ground for up to 10 kilometers away.
Mr. Assomo thanked the Americans for the valuable training, pointing out that the maintenance of the equipment will be assured for two years by the US.
He stated that his country’s military would use the aircraft to protect not only its citizens and national territory from Boko Haram atrocities, but will also join troops of the Lake Chad Basin Commission to liberate Nigeria, Chad and Niger from the pain inflicted on them by terrorists.
The US has been supporting both Cameroon and Nigeria in their fight against Boko Haram insurgents. In 2015, it handed a consignment of rare military equipment to Central African nations that deployed a regional military force to counter Boko Haram’s insurgency in Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad.
