US seeking to set up military bases in Africa
WASHINGTON, Sunday
The US wants to establish military presence in a number of African countries.
Reports published in the run-up to President George Bush's visit to the continent this week, said the Pentagon aimed at building on existing agreements with Uganda and five other sub-Saharan nations that allow refuelling of US military aircraft, the New York Times said yesterday.
If African governments agree, as many as 5,000 American troops could be stationed at "forward-operating bases", the paper reported.
US Special Forces, marines or an infantry rifle platoon could, meanwhile, be sent to more lightly equipped bases in Africa to carry out specific missions, it added. A small number of US troops may also be inserted as peacekeepers in Sudan, the Washington Post reported on the same day.
Neither report mentions Kenya as a site where US troops might be deployed.
But The Wall Street Journal last month named Kenya as one of four sub-Saharan countries where small bases for US troops might be made available.
Nairobi and Washington have a longstanding agreement that allows US forces to make periodic use of air and sea bases in Kenya.
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