# Africom transfers 16 MAMBA APCs to G5 Sahel forces

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2021/04/africom-transfers-16-mamba-apcs-to-g5-sahel-forces/
- Published: 2021-04-15T09:43:19+01:00
- Author: Ekene Lionel

The United States Army’s African Command (AFRICOM) on March 31 completed the transfer
of 16 Mamba APCs to support joint-force G5 Sahel efforts in northern Niger.

The 16 Mamba armoured vehicles will support the G5 Sahel Joint Force’s missions 
of combating counterterrorism, transnational organized crime and trafficking in 
the Sahel.

 * ![](military.africa/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/US_Africa_Command-transfer-16_Mamba_APCs_to_support_joint-
   force_G5_Sahel_efforts_in_northern_Niger_1-scaled.jpg)
 * ![](military.africa/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/US_Africa_Command-transfer-16_Mamba_APCs_to_support_joint-
   force_G5_Sahel_efforts_in_northern_Niger_3-scaled.jpg)

The 16 MAMBA APCs will support joint-force G5 Sahel efforts in northern Niger. (
AFRICOM)

The Mamba armoured vehicle was designed in South Africa, while the Mk 7 variant 
which features various improvements is manufactured in the United States by Osprea
Logistics.

This arms transfer is in line with United States’ support for local forces combatants
in the fight against terrorism. For quite sometime, the United States has been investing
heavily in the G5 Sahel security outfit which includes Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali,
Mauritania, and Niger.

## Timeline of US support for G5 Sahel force

### G5 Sahel: Niger

In June 2019, The United States [delivered the first batch of $21 million military equipment to the Nigerien military](https://www.military.africa/2021/04/africom-transfers-16-mamba-apcs-to-g5-sahel-forces/military.africa/2019/06/the-us-delivers-the-first-batch-of-military-equipment-to-the-niger-republic),
the newly delivered equipment includes transport, fuel, and water trucks; GPS-enabled
navigation systems; fuel containers; military tents and individual soldier equipment.

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In February, the US had [provided a $16.5 million command and control centre,](https://www.military.africa/2021/04/africom-transfers-16-mamba-apcs-to-g5-sahel-forces/military.africa/2019/02/u-s-handsover-command-and-control-c2-center-to-niger)
which comprises of a new building, two deployable tactical operations centres, specialised
communications equipment and radios.

Later that year, thirteen Mamba armoured personnel carriers were [delivered on 5 December.](https://www.military.africa/2021/04/africom-transfers-16-mamba-apcs-to-g5-sahel-forces/military.africa/2019/12/niger-receives-second-tranche-of-military-equipment-from-us)

In May last year, at least ten Mercedes Atego 4×4 troop transport trucks worth up
to $1 million and a logistics warehouse valued at $430,000 were [delivered by the US department of defense (DoD) to the Nigerien Armed Forces.](https://www.military.africa/2021/04/africom-transfers-16-mamba-apcs-to-g5-sahel-forces/military.africa/2020/06/us-donates-10-mercedes-atego-trucks-to-niger)

The Mercedes Atego trucks can transport up to fifteen soldiers individually in challenging
terrain.

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Later in August last year, Twenty-two Osprea Mamba Mk 7 armoured vehicles worth 
$8 million, were [handed over to the Nigerien military.](https://www.military.africa/2021/04/africom-transfers-16-mamba-apcs-to-g5-sahel-forces/military.africa/2020/08/niger-gets-8-million-worth-of-mamba-armored-vehicles-from-the-us)

The vehicles which includes 15 Osprea Logistics Mamba Mk 7 armoured personnel carriers,
four Mamba Mk 7 armoured command vehicles and three Mamba Mk 7 armoured ambulances.
Also handed over were two Toyota land cruiser ambulances and four armoured vehicle
mechanic tool sets.

In addition, the US had provided four medical evacuation aircraft, as well as training
for Nigerien pilots and maintenance crews. Between 2013 and 2015 Niger [received](https://www.military.africa/2021/04/africom-transfers-16-mamba-apcs-to-g5-sahel-forces/military.africa/2018/02/us-donates-cessna-208-isr-to-chadian-and-cameroonian-air-force?v=65d8f7baa677)
four Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft from the United States, with two configured for
surveillance.

### G5 Sahel: Chad and Burkina Faso

Meanwhile, the United States [delivered several military equipment to the Chadian military](https://www.military.africa/2021/04/africom-transfers-16-mamba-apcs-to-g5-sahel-forces/military.africa/2020/07/us-comes-through-for-chad-with-28-david-armored-vehicles-10-trucks-other-equipment)
to support it’s G5 Sahel counterterror commitments.

The delivered equipment comprised of 28 David light armored vehicles designed by
Alabama-based MDT Armor Corporation, 10 trucks, 8 water tankers, 2 maintenance vehicles,
tools, communications equipment, and vehicle spare parts is stated to worth $8.5
million.

While Burkina Faso [received at least four 4×4 trucks and two communication vehicle](https://www.military.africa/2021/04/africom-transfers-16-mamba-apcs-to-g5-sahel-forces/military.africa/2019/12/u-s-donates-transport-and-communications-equipment-to-burkina-faso)
worth more than 580 million CFA francs ($990,631.30 USD) from the United States.

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