US military defends Africa strategy amid coups and Russia shift

The head of the US military in Africa has vigorously defended his anti-terrorism strategy on the continent and pledged to pursue it despite a wave of criticism and a drift by African nations towards seeking aid to security from Russia.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday May 29 during Africa Lion , a war simulation exercise in Morocco , Gen. Michael Langley blamed a wave of Russian disinformation for anti-American sentiment in unstable regions. He said the military must reaffirm how its long-standing strategy can promote stability throughout the Sahel , the semi-arid region south of the Sahara Desert .

The 6,000 U.S. military personnel stationed in Africa face new…