Credit:  By Gary Raynaldo  /  Ambassador of Niger to the United States Abdallah Wafy (left),  Ambassador  of Mauritania  to the U.S.  Ba  Samba  Mamadou,  and  Second Adviser of the Embassy of Mali in the U.S. Ibrahima  Biridogo , participate in the  Africa Center for Strategic Studies  roundtable, “Strategies for Peace and Security in the Sahel” at National Defense University in Washington D.C. Sept. 9, 2019.

By Gary Raynaldo        DIPLOMATIC TIMES

WASHINGTON  D.C.  –  Terror and violent attacks linked to militant Islamic groups in the Africa SAHEL  region have increased dramatically during the past few years.  The main African countries on the front lines in the battle against terrorism in the dangerous Sahel region are Mauritania, Niger, Mali, Chad, and Burkina Faso. They are part of the G5 Sahel Joint Force and the Sahel Alliance. Frustration is mounting among African leaders as there seems to be no end to deadly terror and ethnic attacks across the Sahel. The Africa Center for Strategic Studies  held a roundtable, “Strategies for Peace and Security in the Sahel” at National Defense University in Washington D.C. last week to address the security issue in the African region . Ambassadors and representatives  from Niger, Mauritania, Mali, Chad, and Burkina Faso participated in the forum.   Militant groups in the SAHEL have grown more active.  Events linked to militant Islamist activity, including al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) affiliates and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), collectively tripled in 2018, to 464 violent episodes from 192 the year prior, according to the Africa Center For Strategic Studies.   Overall, militant Islamist groups in Africa engaged in 3,050 violent events in 2018—a record level of activity.

“Today the Sahel is at a crucial point in the fight against terrorism. Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, have been hit hard with attacks.  And tomorrow, other countries could be attacked.  The war against terrorism can be won by an adequate response at the right time.  The expansion of terror across the Sahel will really put a stop to Africa progress, particularly women’s rights, and development. I’d like to call on the United States to mobilize more strongly to fight terrorism in the Sahel”.

-Ambassador of Chad to the United States Gali Koutou. 

Five soldiers  from the Malian Armed  Forces (FAMA) were killed in central Mali last month  when their convoy was ambushed by jihadists.  And the week before,  gunmen killed 24 soldiers in an attack on an army unit in neighboring Burkina Faso.  In March,  more than 150 Fulani  were massacred as there seems to be no end in sight to ethnic and jihadist violence in west African nation Mali, despite the presence of thousands of French and UN Peacekeepers.  In 2017, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Mali and Mauritania — backed by France, launched the G5 Sahel taskforce to combat extremists. But a lack of finance, training and equipment limited their effectiveness and their numbers.

Source: European Parliamentary Research Service Blog /  The brown strip is the region known as the Sahel, which runs east and west through large parts of Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan,and into the Horn of Africa. The Sahel is the heart of France’s military counter-terrorism Operation Barkhane, which France claims is aimed at tackling the jihadist threat in that region. 

Inadequate Financing For G5-Sahel Force A Cause of Concern 

Credit: By Gary Raynaldo / Ambassador of Niger to the United States Abdallah Wafy (left),  Ambassador  of Mauritania  to the U.S.  Ba  Samba  Mamadou,  Second Adviser of the Embassy of Mali in the U.S. Ibrahima  Biridogo,  Charles F. “Chic” Dambach, Constituency for Africa (moderator) Ambassador of Chad to the United States Gali Koutou, and  Ambassador of Burkina Faso to United States, HE Seydou Kabore ,  “Strategies for Peace and Security in the Sahel” at National Defense University in Washington D.C. Sept. 9, 2019.

Ambassador  Seydou Kabore  (BURKINA FASO)   spoke on the shortage of financing for G5 Sahel countries to fight terrorism. “It is a serious concern.”   The ambassador also noted the need for continued commitment from the ECOWAS  states. to help combat terrorism in Sahel.

United Nations Cannot Deal With Terrorist Threat: Ambassador of NIGER  to U.S. 

Credit: by Gary Raynaldo / Ambassador of Niger to the United States Abdallah Wafy (left)  with  Ambassador Ambassador  of Mauritania  to the U.S.  Sept. 9, 2019 Washington D.C. Africa Sahel Conference. 

“Ten years ago, there were no foreign troops in Mali. Now there are many.  (UN) MINUSMA costs $1 Billion per year. After six years and $6 Billion,  we still have the problem of terrorism. Also France spends $700 million per  year for its Operation Barkhane. But the situation (in Sahel) is deteriorating. The region is still a sanctuary for terrorists.  We should divert these funds to those who are able to do the job. The UN can not deal with a terrorist threat.  MINUSMA is a peacekeeping operation. MINUSMA is not designed to fight terrorists. We are going to address this issue at the UN Security Council next year. As of January 2020, Niger will be on the UN Security Council.”

-Ambassador of Niger to the United States Abdallah Wafy

DIPLOMATIC TIMES Video /  Ambassador of Niger to the United States Abdallah Wafy Sept. 9, 2019 Washington D.C. Africa Sahel Conference. 

The Niger ambassador also suggested there are certain foreign powers funding Islamic many of the insurgents in the Sahel. “Who is behind the insurgents?” he asked. “Many of the weapons of Boka Haram come from Libya…oil money. These groups are heavily armed. They are an army. They have major support.”

United Nations  Vows To Continue To Support Mali and Peacekeeping Efforts In Sahel

“We’re all concerned about the situation in the Sahel.  What I can tell you is that our colleagues, peacekeepers in MINUSMA, are doing an incredible job at a very high personal risk.  I think that Mission, if I’m not wrong, has seen the highest numbers of fatalities.  The role of the UN is to try to… peacekeepers is to try to create some safe space within Mali, but all the signatories to the agreements that were agreed to in Mali have a responsibility.  The political leaders have a responsibility, from all of Malian society.  The United Nations will continue to support Mali in their efforts.  There is a broader challenge in the Sahel.  The Secretary‑General has expressed his… I think, his frustration at the lack of predictable funding to the G5 Sahel force.”

-Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General.

Embassy of MALI    Urges International Community To  Stabilize Libya 

Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  Ambassador of Chad to the United States Gali Koutou, (left) and  Ambassador of Burkina Faso to United States, HE Seydou Kabore

The Embassy of MALI  was represented by the second advisor Mr. Ibrahima  Biridogo who, in his speech presented  progress made by Mali in the context of crisis management, political, security, as well as progress In the field of development.  Biridogo  stressed that the countries of the Sahel have opportunities in terms of natural resources and human potential that could contribute to development. He also emphasize the need to intervene to stabilize not only the countries of the sahel, but also Libya.  Biridogo urged  the international community to take a stand on the situation in Libya,  given its role as a major destabilizing element in the Sahel. Biridogo  also called on all players involved to provide more synergy of action to effectively combat terrorism.   He stated an effective, successful  fight against terror calls for international cooperation.  “It is important that all the forces involved coordinate.”  He also stated that transnational narcotics trafficking is a further destabilizing factor in the  region. He also noted that a lack of economic opportunities for young Africans is dangerous, pointing out that youth comprise 65 percent of the population.

Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  Ambassador  of Mauritania  to the U.S.  Ba  Samba  Mamadou,  (left) explains concerns regarding security in the  Sahel,  and  the Second Adviser of the Embassy of Mali in the U.S. Ibrahima  Biridogo,  Sep. 9, 2019,  Washington  D.C.