Props up authoritarian regimes  The USA has helped solidify the rule of several oppressive regimes in Africa through its counter-terrorism assistance. In an effort to prevent terrorism from gaining a foothold in Africa, US policy has supported states which have poor human rights records, allowing them to continue brutal regimes. The training and equipping of counter terrorism units by the US has been linked to increased repression and unaccountability from police forces [1] . This approach strengthened the Sudanese regime, who committed atrocities in Darfur while simultaneously received aid from the USA [2] . US support on the continent could backfire if highly trained but repressive forces become prominent.  [1] Hills,A., ‘Trojan Horses? USAID, counter-terrorism and Africa’s police’ pg.638  [2] Lyman, P. N., ‘The War on Terrorism in Africa’ pg.13