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| Africa North |
| Western countries are necessary in the anti-AQIM fight |
| 2011-04-09 |
| [Ennahar] The new president of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, believes that Western countries are "indispensable" in the fight against al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) which has stepped up abductions of Westerners in Niger since 2008. "In order to eradicate evil (...), Northern countries are indispensable for the formation, training and equipping of our forces of defense and security (FDS)," said Mr. Issoufou in an interview with the Journal of the Nigerian Army Green Beret. "Not to be blind (in battle), cooperation with them in terms of intelligence is also essential," underlined Mr. Issoufou cautioning that "the threat of AQIM could destabilize the entire Sahara. In a regional context, he thinks that with "logistical support of the North", the Sahel countries affected can lead the fight through the Joint Staff based in Tamanrasset (southern Algeria) and composed of forces in Algeria, Mauritania, Mali and Niger. Each state must use its own capacity to cope with the situation, "but we must pool the tasks of monitoring, prevention and response," said Mr. Issoufou, inaugurated president of Niger on Thursday, after his election on March 12. Niger, one of the most "fragile" countries, should "imperatively" increase the quantity and quality of its armed forces and improve their equipment," he said. He envisions a "deployment" of forces throughout the territory of his vast country, the creation of new barracks, outposts and sending Special Forces into border areas. AQIM still retains four kidnapped Frenchies, kidnapped on Sept. 16 on a site of uranium mining in northern Niger and calls for "at least 90 million" for their release. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 In a regional context, he thinks that with "logistical support of the North", the Sahel countries affected can lead the fight through the Joint Staff based in Tamanrasset (southern Algeria) and composed of forces in Algeria, Mauritania, Mali and Niger. Meanwhile, South Africa, a country who a few short years ago could have led the anti-terror effort, still recovering from thousands of years of apartheid, sits this one out Chinese style. Hat tip to the African |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2011-04-09 22:56 |