US Blocks Israeli Sales to Nigeria
US Secretary of State Kerry, in Lagos, promises more aid if Nigerian
elections are clam, yet the US blocked a sale of retired American-made Cobra
helicopters by Israel to Nigeria. The New York Times: "Concerns in
Washington about Nigeria’s ability to use and maintain that type of
helicopter"
IsraelDefense 26/1/2015
http://www.israeldefense.com/?CategoryID=483&ArticleID=3328

More than 200 combatants have been killed after Nigerian troops clashed with
Boko Haram insurgents who attacked the north-eastern city of Maiduguri on
Sunday, i24News website reported. Survivors reported that the rebels
rampaged through villages slitting throats of residents, looting and burning
homes and abducting dozens of trapped women and children.

The violence occurred as Secretary of State John Kerry launched a
whistlestop visit to Lagos to discuss the upcoming February 14 elections in
light of concerns about a repeat of post-poll unrest in 2011, which left
some 1,000 people dead.

Kerry promised more US support in the fight against Boko Haram if the
elections take place peacefully and democratically. However, the United
States apparently stopped a planned sale of retired American-made Cobra
helicopters by Israel to Nigeria, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported Monday.

Haaretz has learned that the Defense Ministry had already made plans for the
sale to Nigeria and the transfer of the helicopters – but the United States
prevented the sale, due to fears that civilians would be harmed during the
use of the helicopters in Nigeria.

The New York Times reported at the end of December that the US had blocked
the sale “amid concerns in Washington about Nigeria’s ability to use and
maintain that type of helicopter in its effort against Boko Haram, and
continuing worries about Nigeria’s protection of civilians when conducting
military operations.”

The report on i24News added that Israel significantly increased the volume
of its weapons sales to African countries in 2013 compared to previous
years. Defense Ministry figures show that 2013 was the record year for
weapons sales to African countries: A total of $233 million worth of arms
and military technology. In the four previous years, the annual amount of
such contracts was between $70 million and $120 million