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African leaders gathered in Mauritania last week pledged to redouble their efforts to reduce and defeat extremist groups on the continent, particularly in the Sahel region.
This pledge follows a series of attacks by jihadist terrorist groups in two Sahelian countries, including an attack that killed 10 Nigerian soldiers in the south-east of the country and an attack on HQ headquarters. regional anti-jihadist force G5 Sahel in Sevare. other attacks in Mali.
But some experts warn that the African Union can not do much to strengthen the capabilities of the G5 force that was created last year.
"I can not think of anything the AU (African Union) do to help," says Michael Shurkin, a senior political scientist at the Rand Corporation. "The armed forces from which he comes are weak and lack many basic capabilities. Turning them into an effective coalition takes time. "
French anti-terrorist efforts in the Sahel
Monday, a branch of al-Qaeda in Evil i, Group to Support Islam and Muslims (Jama & Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimin), claimed responsibility for the recent attacks in Mali, saying that it was from a message addressed to the French president, Emmanuel Macron
. Mauritania will discuss the fight against terror in the region with leaders of the G5 Force countries on the sidelines of the AU summit in Nouakchott
"This exchange will be an opportunity for me to mark my commitment to renew the link between France and the African continent … on issues of security, counter-terrorism and education, "said Macron
France has about 4,000 soldiers fighting jihadist groups in the Sahel under the banner of Operation Barkhane. The troops, along with their Malian counterparts, were the target of Sunday's suicide bombing that killed four civilians and wounded many soldiers, including French soldiers in Gao, northern Mali.
Alix Boucher, badociate researcher at the African Center for Strategic Studies in Washington, France could do more to strengthen the security services of Mali and other G5 members. But according to Boucher, extremist groups in the Sahel could use an increased French military presence in the region for propaganda and recruitment. by allowing them to say that we can not rely on regional governments to ensure security and that French troops are trampling on their sovereignty. "
The biggest challenge facing the G5 Sahel now is that of financing and equipment, and many badysts say the direct funding of the Force by the African union would not be feasible.
the mission by the African Union would only transfer funding challenges to the AU, "said Boucher.
The chairman of the G5 Sahel Country Group, President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, has said the group will seek direct funding from the UN as a sure way to finance the force.
"We have agreed to continue the plea to put the G5 Sahel Force under Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter, which will address the issue of long-term joint force financing," he said. Nigerian news agency, quoted by the Nigerien news agency. According to the African Center for Strategic Studies in Washington, authorities in Sahelian countries like Mali must badume their responsibilities to provide services to all of their population, not just to some.
"Not only did the Malian government not provide it encouraged the creation of local militias to protect communities rather than the military," she said. [659002] Williams said that when the army appears, it tends to treat everyone, including the militia, as if they were part of the militants.
"This only had the effect of pushing some militias to jihadist groups for their their weapons and support, "she said.
President Issoufou of Niger is of the opinion that the military force is only a temporary force." We are fighting militarily to defeat terrorism, which is a short-term solution, but in the long run, the solution is economic and social development, because poverty breeds terrorism, "he told the ANP. 19659002] For badysts like Shurkin of the Rand Corporation, better hope for the G5 Sahel Force belongs to the French.
"The best hope of the G5 Sahel Force to become something effective would be if it is de facto, if not de jure, an auxiliary to the French, no matter how bad," he said. he said.
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