Source: www.aujourd8.net/mali /    Les Forces Armées Maliennes (FAMa) sont responsables de la défense de l’intégrité territoriale et la souveraineté du Mali. 

By Gary Raynaldo     DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

At least 29 soldiers  were killed in an attack  Thursday on an army post in northeast Mali, according to the armed forces. The attack took place in the town of Tarkint, north of the city of Gao. 

Le bilan revu à la hausse
Le bilan de la position FAMa a #Tarkint (#Gao) est de 29 morts et 5 blessés, côté #FAMa. pic.twitter.com/f5qG1ISJmC

— Forces Armées Maliennes (@FAMa_DIRPA) March 19, 2020

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. 

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.  It was the deadliest attack since last November 2019  when at least 54 soldiers  were in an attack  on an army base in northern Mali.

Frustration Growing Among African Leaders To Non-Stop Deadly Terror and Ethnic Attacks across Sahel. 

Credit: UN photo / /Ariana Lindquist /   Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, President of Mali, speaks at the high-level meeting on Mali and the Sahel on margins of UN General Assembly Session Sept. 25, 2019 at world headquarters New  York. The meeting provided an opportunity for the Malian Government to brief on the implementation of the priority measures listed in a previously determined Security Council resolution (2480).

African Ambassadors Call For More Action To End Terror Attacks in SAHEL

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.

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

“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

U.S. Steps Up Diplomatic Engagement In Africa SAHEL Amid Extremists Attacks

Credit:  Gary Raynaldo / © Diplomatic Times /   Major General Christopher E. Craige, U.S. Africa Command, speaks at the Africa Symposium 2020, “Advancing Africa’s Governance, Peace, and Security,” at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. March 11, 2020. 

 American Commitment To SAHEL “Is Second To None”:   U.S. Department of State Whitney Baird

Whitney Baird, Deputy Assistant Secretary for West Africa and Security Affairs, Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State, said the Sahel  is in a state crisis.  Baird said it is a danger the longer the crisis in the Sahel continues. She pointed out that the U.S. is increasing its diplomatic presence in the Sahel amid the growing instability. “David  Hale,  United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, addressed the Senate yesterday on the Sahel. He testified that we will continue to support (the United Nations)  Mali MINUSMA (peacekeeping mission)”.  She also noted that Secretary of State Michael Pompeo appointed Dr. J. Peter Pham as the first-ever U.S. Special Envoy for the Sahel region to maximize American diplomatic efforts in support of stability amid an unprecedented surge in terror attacks.

“The U.S. Commitment to the Sahel is second to none. The U.S. has provided hundreds of millions of dollars for food and security assistance . In the coming  months, the U.S. looks forward to escalating our diplomatic engagement in the Sahel to  ensure a stable and prosperous Sahel.”

-Whitney Baird, Deputy Assistant Secretary for West Africa and Security Affairs, Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State.