“How many coup leaders have we trained in Niger, Ghana” comment by US official sparks concern on social media

There is a frenzy on the X platform over a video where a US Congressman makes mention of African countries where the US is training some coup leaders.

The video in circulation shows two major US officials being probed over the safety of US soldiers in Niger. Last month, US troops left neighbouring Niger after being ordered out by the country’s junta.

To assure the congressman that all will be done to protect the US army in Niger, one of the officials, Hon. Wormuth, says she will get in touch with General Michael Langley, the head of the US Africa Command.

This did not sit well with the congressman, who then remarked, “I have talked to General Langley. He comes in here and never has any good answers. I asked him for information about how many coup leaders we had trained including Niger, Ghana, Mali and Ivory Coast and he didn’t even produce his report on time.”

His comment, interpreted as the US training individuals who embark on coup d’etats by netizens on social media, has drawn concerns from Ghanaians.

“It wasn’t a slip of tongue. The US has always been behind all the coups and government overthrows across the world. The US is a criminal state. Africa must unite and remove all these US bases from its land. Shameless criminals. Glory to Russia and Mr Putin,” a user wrote on X.

Another wrote, “This is not a slip of tongue. It happened 2 weeks ago. Included is the transcript of the exchange. The IMA train & Equip program is no joke. It literally means train and equip men to undertake a coup.”

The US is still engaged with Niger and Chad, despite withdrawing troops from the countries, the head of the US Africa Command has told the BBC.

US troops left Chad after the country’s military leaders raised concerns over their presence ahead of the 6 May elections.

Gen Michael Langley told the BBC it was a “temporary repositioning” of troops.

Russian military instructors have arrived in Niger as part of a new agreement with the military leaders.

Several other military-led countries in the Sahel region have also recently strengthened ties with Russia and cut them with France, the former colonial power, as they try to fight an Islamist insurgency in the region.

The Sahel region is considered the new global epicentre of the Islamic State group. Gen Langley said that violent extremist organisations were the biggest threat to Africa’s stability.

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael E. Langley meets Akufo-Addo

His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo, the President of the Republic of Ghana and his cabinet met with U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Virginia E. Palmer and U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael E. Langley, Commander, U.S. Africa Command, at the Presidential residence, Jubilee House, in Accra, Ghana, on April 30, 2024.

U.S. Africa Command along with U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa are participating in African Maritime Forces Summit and Naval Infantry Leadership Symposium – Africa (AMFS/NILS-A). AMFS and NILS-A is a strategic-level forum designed to address transnational maritime security challenges in African waters, bringing together partner nations with marine forces and naval infantry to develop interoperability, crisis response capabilities, and foster relationships that will improve Africa’s maritime domain security.