UN Chief Calls On International Community To Step Up Support Of Africa Sahel Forces If US pulls back
Credit: Wikipedia Commons / American Special Forces training along side Nigerien soldiers 2018. The U.S. Department of Defense is considering a reduction of American military assets in Africa, notably West Africa. There are approximately 800 American military personnel stationed in W. Africa, mostly at a base in Niger. The Americans in Niger provide logistical support, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assistance to the French and their partners governments in the Sahel region.
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
UNITED NATIONS – NEW YORK – Top French military official, Florence Parly warned her American counterpart this week that cutting U.S. support for France in West Africa would have a negative impact on counter terror operations in the troubled Sahel region. U.S. Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper welcomed Parly, who is France’s Armed Forces Minister to the Pentagon Monday in Washington D.C. to discuss issues of mutual interest between their nations. Parly is in the U.S. Capital this week amid fears American forces could pull out of the Sahel region. France is appealing to President Trump not to cut off U.S. military support to French forces fighting Islamist militants in Africa, warning that it could undermine efforts to counter a growing terrorist threat in the so-called Sahel region. France has some 4,500 troops in the Sahel with the US providing much-needed intelligence, logistic and drone support. There are approximately 800 American military personnel stationed in W. Africa, mostly at a base in Niger.
Sahel Countries Need More Support to Fight Armed Terror Groups: UN chief
“The (UN) Secretary‑General has been very clear, is that he believes the international community should step up its effort and do whatever they can to support the countries on the front line, mainly the G5 Sahel forces, with robust and predictable support for their military anti‑terrorist action, and at the same time, also provide support for a number of the development aspects to address some of the root causes of what we’re seeing. Part of that is also what is going on in Libya, and that’s no secret of the impact of the continued conflict in Libya on the precarious situation in western Africa.”
-Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General António Guterres said Jan. 29, 2020.
France Regards American Role in Sahel As “Essential”
Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper holds a bilateral meeting with French Defense Minister Florence Parly, at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Jan. 27, 2020. (DoD photo by Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class James K. Lee)
“The American role in Sahel counter-terror operations is small, but the French regard it as essential,” John Campbell wrote in a blog post Jan. 28, 2020 for the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) titled: ‘Cutting U.S. Military Support for France in West Africa Would Be a Mistake’.
“A French presidency official characterized the American role as “irreplaceable.” “If the Americans decided to pull out of Africa, it would be very bad news for us, absolutely,” said President Macron. “I hope that I can convince President Trump that the fight against terrorism, a fight that he is fully committed to, is at stake out in this region.”
