The US military has restricted the travel of its officers to five West African countries including Ghana over fears of terror attacks, Reuters has reported. The directive, according to the media agency, limits informal travel by the military personnel to Senegal, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Ghana.
“It’s just increased vigilance given the recent events that have happened in that area of the world,” said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Falvo, a spokesman for U.S. Africa Command. Suspected terrorists last Sunday shot and killed 19 people at a beachside resort in Ivory Coast. The terror group al Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for the action.
The order against traveling to Ghana and the other countries suspected to be susceptible to terror attacks is expected to be in force till June 30, this year. It however does not include official travels. “Given the recent attacks in western Africa, we felt it prudent to make this decision at this time in an effort to ensure the safety of our personnel,” U.S. Lieutenant Colonel Michelle Baldanza, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said. U.S. Africa Command has between 1,000 and 1,200 forces on the continent at any one time, mostly in training and support roles to help local security forces combat militants.
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