US-China rivalry for military influence in Africa ramps up

Johannesburg - While the U.S. was forced to downsize and pull its troops out of Niger this year, China is increasing its military cooperation on the continent, recently announcing a plan to spend $140 million to train 6,000 military personnel - a move, a U.S. defense official said Friday, was for China's "own economic growth and benefit."

Among the many ways that the U.S. and China are competing for influence in