Quartz: West Africa’s Sahel struggles to contain deadly jihadist groups that’ve infiltrated communities
Leaders of G5 Sahel countries gathered for emergency talks in Niamey on Sunday after Niger faced the most spectacular military attack on its soil since jihadists gained a foothold in the region.
Reportedly executed by dozens of men on motorcycles, on a base just 124 miles outside of the capital, near the border with Mali, the attack that killed 71 soldiers was claimed by the Islamic State and is being read as a warning that group is fast expanding its territory throughout the region.
“These endless attacks carried out by terrorist groups in our region remind us not only of the gravity of the situation, but also the urgency for us to work more closely together,” said Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, the president of Burkina Faso, a nation that has now become the epicenter of the security crisis that has its roots in neighboring Mali’s conflict that began in 2012.
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WNU Editor: There are a lot of conflicting messages from the West on what is happening in this part of Africa. French President Macron is saying that a turning point in the war against Islamic extremists has been reached .... Macron in Niger: France, Sahel are allies in "turning point" in war on jihadists (France 24). The German government is saying that the threat is increasing .... Terrorism poses growing threat in Africa's Sahel, Germany warns (DW). The U.S. message is confusing. On the one hand they are saying they will be ramping up operations .... 2 years after the Niger ambush, the US reportedly plans on ramping up counterterrorism efforts in the region (Task & Purpose), followed two days later with a decision to withdraw from the region .... Report: US Considers Pulling Troops from West Africa (VOA/AFP). As to what is my take. Islamic extremists have definitely taken a hold in this region, and they are not leaving.
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