WASHINGTON, May 17 (UPI) -- The Pentagon is reportedly launching a new program to prevent terrorists from establishing a foothold in Africa. The Trans Saharan Counterterrorism Initiative will officially start in June, Theresa Whelan, deputy assistant secretary of defense for African affairs, told the American Forces Press Service. The initiative will cover Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, Chad, Tunisia, Senegal, Nigeria, Mali, Chad and Niger, she said.
U.S. special operations forces will train their counterparts in seven Saharan countries, teaching military tactics critical in enhancing regional security and stability. At the same time, they will encourage the participating nations to work collaboratively toward confronting regional issues, Whelan said.
Vast, relatively unpopulated areas and a lack of strong government controls make parts of Africa particularly attractive to terrorists, Whelan told AFPS. Traditional caravan routes in this area can provide hideouts and staging areas for international and regional terrorists and criminals who move goods and money to support their operations without detection or interference, she said. |