Obama orders 300 troops to Cameroon to support fight against Boko Haram

President Obama on Wednesday, October 14, said he had ordered 300 troops to Cameroon to work with West African soldiers seeking to counter the Nigerian extremist group Boko Haram. In a letter to Congress, Obama said that the troops would provide “intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance” in the region.

White House press secretary, Josh Earnest, said that the troops would be armed for their protection but that they would not engage in combat.

President Obama said that an advance force of about 90 military personnel had begun deploying to Cameroon, which borders Nigeria, on Monday, October 12. Administration officials said that unarmed Predator drones would be sent with the troops, who will aid a multinational task force composed of soldiers from Cameroon, Chad, Benin, Niger and Nigeria.