{UAH} Nigeria Taps South African Mercenaries in Fight Against Boko Haram | Foreign Policy

The source, who has directly discussed the campaign with Nigerian security officials, said Abuja turned to South African defense contractors to provide helicopters and pilots. That happened after the United States refused to provide weapons and blocked the sale of Cobra attack helicopters from Israel to Nigeria.

The sale of the helicopters was blocked, the source said, because the United States was worried that Nigeria did not know how to properly operate the vehicles. Renting the helicopters from South Africa was "one-stop shopping" because they came equipped with trained pilots, the source said. The mercenaries likely arrived in Nigeria this fall but did not launch an offensive until recently.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/03/12/nigeria-taps-south-african-mercenaries-in-fight-against-boko-haram/?utm_content=buffer38d7f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Brian M. Kwesiga

President and CEO,

Ugandan North American Association - UNAA

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