The United States was a very young country when it first saw its military engaged in conflict in Africa. The Barbary Wars in the early nineteenth century marked one of the first expeditionary engagements for the new nation. Still, it was not until after the end of the Second World War, as nations in Africa began to shrug off colonialism, that the US really took a significant interest in the continent. With the end of colonialism came the rise of new political movements, and Africa became an important front in the Cold War. The United States spent significant energy supporting its side of the argument and the US military were called upon on more than one occasion to assist. As the Cold War entered its twilight, interest dwindled again. Still, the US conducted numerous operations in the 1980s ranging from punitive strikes to supporting international peace operations to non-combatant evacuation and humanitarian assistance operations.
| Historical Operations | |||
| Name | Locale | Start Date | End Date |
| Shadow Express | Liberia | 21 Sep 1998 | 7 Oct 1998 |
| Infinite Reach | Sudan | 20 Aug 1998 | 20 Aug 1998 |
| Resolute Response | Kenya / Tanzania | 31 Aug 1999 | 7 Aug 1998 |
| Shepherd Venture | Guinea-Bissau | 10 Jun 1998 | 17 Jun 1998 |
| Safe Departure | Eritrea | 5 Jun 1998 | 6 Jun 1998 |
| Noble Response | Congo | 21 Jan 1998 | 25 Mar 1998 |
| Firm Response | Congo | 10 Jun 1997 | 18 Jun 1997 |
| Noble Obelisk | Sierra Leone | May 1997 | Jun 1997 |
| Guardian Retrieval | DRC | Mar 1997 | Jun 1997 |
| Assured Lift | Liberia | 18 Feb 1997 | 7 Mar 1997 |
| Assurance / Phoenix Tusk / Guardian Assistance | Zaire / Rwanda / Uganda | 15 Nov 1996 | 27 Dec 1996 |
| Quick Response | Central African Republic | May 1996 | Aug 1996 |
| Assured Response | Liberia | Apr 1996 | Aug 1996 |
| United Shield | Somalia | 3 Jan 1995 | 25 Mar 1995 |
| Quiet Resolve / Support Hope | Rwanda | 22 Jul 1994 | 30 Sep 1994 |
| Distant Runner | Rwanda | 9 Apr 1994 | 15 Apr 1994 |
| Quick Draw | Somalia | 1994 | |
| Continue Hope | Somalia | 4 May 1993 | Dec 1993 |
| Restore Hope | Somalia | 4 Dec 1992 | 4 May 1993 |
| Provide Relief | Somalia | 14 Aug 1992 | 8 Dec 1992 |
| Provide Transition | Angola | 3 Aug 1992 | 9 Oct 1992 |
| Silver Anvil | Sierra Leone | 2 May 1992 | 5 May 1992 |
| Quick Lift | Zaire | 24 Sep 1991 | 7 Oct 1991 |
| Eastern Exit | Somalia | 2 Jan 1991 | 11 Jan 1991 |
| Sharp Edge | Liberia | May 1990 | 8 Jan 1991 |
| Mount Hope III | Chad | ? 1988 | Jun 1988 |
| El Dorado Canyon | Libya | 12 Apr 1986 | 17 Apr 1986 |
| Attain Document | Libya | 26 Jan 1986 | 29 Mar 1986 |
| Arid Farmer | Chad / Sudan | Aug 1983 | |
| Early Call | Egypt / Sudan | 18 Mar 1983 | Aug 1983 |
| Dragon Blanc / Dragon Vert | DRC | Proposed Nov 1964, Cancelled | |
| Dragon Noir | DRC | Nov 1964 | |
| Dragon Rouge | DRC | Nov 1964 | |
| Running Bear | DRC | Nov 1964 | ? 1964 |
| High Beam | DRC | Oct 1964 | Nov? 1964 |
| Golden Hawk / Low Beam | DRC | Sep? 1964 | Oct? 1964 |
| Ready Move / II / III | DRC | Jan 1964 | Oct 1964 |
| Sandy Beach II | Mali | Jan 1963 | May 1963 |
| Sandy Beach | Mali | Aug 1961 | Sep 1961 |
NOTE: If no end date is provided the start date is both the start date and the end date. Missing or unclear information is indicated by a question mark.
America's Codebook: Africa 