A flurry of reports from the New York Times, Bloomberg Business and Voice of America tell a story of white mercenaries mostly from South Africa fighting in Nigeria against Boko Haram.  The mercenaries are providing critical skills like operating attack aircraft and artillery systems as well as tactical expertise in conducting nighttime operations equipped with night vision gear.

Nigeria has not resourced its military well over the last decade but there are reportedly units that are capable but not being employed to their consternation.  Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan is under pressure with an upcoming election to demonstrate progress against Boko Haram.  Pulling in foreign troops from neighboring countries (allowed in limited instances) is problematic for President Jonathan.  Using mercenaries in headquarters, at night to conduct key operations and operate key weapon systems allows the administration to hide their presence and simultaneously take credit for successes by surging Nigerian troops in newly won areas and giving them public credit.  Photos of white troops in Nigerian trucks as well as casualty reports among the mercenaries undermine that narrative.

The use of white troops to fight Boko Haram provides a propaganda opportunity for the recently affiliated ISIS organization to portray the struggle in Nigeria as one of racial and/or religious implications.  South Africa promises to prosecute South Africans that participate.