Matt Gaetz demands Pentagon accountability for U.S.-trained coup leaders.

Florida Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz is demanding accountability from the ⁢Pentagon in the wake of​ recent⁤ coups in Africa involving soldiers who were⁢ previously trained or funded by⁣ the United States.

In an interview with The Intercept, Gaetz ‌revealed his proposed amendment to the 2024 national defense spending bill. This ⁣amendment aims​ to collect data on​ military⁣ members involved in coups and require the Pentagon to report​ that information to⁣ Congress. The⁤ urgency for this action arises as African countries have experienced two coups ⁢in just two months – Niger in ‌July and Gabon on ‍Wednesday.

“The Department of Defense, up until⁤ this point, has not kept ‌data regarding the people ⁣they train who participate in⁢ coups to overthrow democratically elected — or any — governments,” Gaetz ‍told the outlet. “And that’s why in this National Defense⁣ Authorization Act … I have legislation that demands a ⁢collection ⁣of that data ⁢and a report to Congress⁣ about those outcomes.”

The House Armed Services Committee‌ has ‍already approved​ Gaetz’s⁤ legislation, but ‍its fate will ultimately be decided after legislators return to the Capitol in September. Under the amendment, the Pentagon would be required to disclose each instance of ⁤a U.S. “trained​ or equipped” person who ⁤“subsequently engaged in ​a coup, insurrection, or action to overthrow ⁣a ⁣democratically-elected government, or⁢ attempted any such action” since January 2000.

A spokesperson for the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) ‍told The Intercept‍ in 2022 ​that they don’t “actively track”⁣ people after they‌ receive ⁤U.S. training ⁢and ⁤make no record ⁣of ‍how many coups have involved them.

“If the true desired end state was really to ⁤strengthen national borders and national capabilities, we would definitely follow⁤ who broke bad,” Gaetz said. “But​ that isn’t the desired end state. Just being there is the desired end​ state — which⁣ is a betrayal of our ⁢national interest.”

The‌ State Department tracks ⁣data on U.S. trainees​ but ⁢would not ​provide any information to‍ the outlet on the⁤ number who went on to attempt to overthrow their governments.

According to data analyzed by The Intercept, 15⁢ military​ officers​ who were⁤ involved in 12 coups in West ​Africa and the Sahel⁣ region “benefitted from U.S. ‌security assistance” during the‌ War on Terror, including in Burkina Faso, ​Gambia,⁣ Chad, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. Five U.S.-trained coup ‌leaders in Niger ultimately went on to appoint five governors who ‌were ‍also ‌previously trained by the U.S., the ⁣outlet reports.

“Literally as this story was being published, there was ⁤another African coup, led⁣ by people the ⁢US⁣ trained,” Gaetz posted to X on Wednesday, referring to a⁣ coup ‍in ‍Gabon. “Our⁢ Africa‌ Strategy is a hot mess,” he added. In another post, Gaetz ⁤said he opposed ⁤ using “American taxpayer‍ funds for training the people who ​execute destabilizing ⁣coups in Africa.”

Gaetz placed some of the blame on the Biden administration, saying that under Secretary of‌ Defense Lloyd Austin’s ⁤“abysmal tenure,”⁢ seven ⁤coups‍ have taken place in Africa – all of which, Gaetz says, were “connected to people⁤ trained by US Taxpayer ‌funds.”

“Wanna⁤ know where we can cut spending? How ⁣about we spend​ less training people ‌who overthrow elected governments?” the Florida congressman said.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases