Hay que recordar que Níger es la base de operaciones contra el terrorismo de EE. UU. y donde la semana pasada y gracias a la intermediación del Presidente de Níger fue liberada una monja estadounidense que estaba secuestrada desde abril y que fue el resultado de las negociaciones entre las autoridades nigerinas y el Grupo de Apoyo al Islam y a los musulmanes.
After France’s exit from Mali, Niger is the brand new base within the combat in opposition to jihadist terrorism within the Sahel, not just for France but in addition for Burkina Faso, which shares a border with Niger and Mali.
France and the Barkhane power are based mostly in Niger the place they’re additionally being criticised by varied native sectors who see this French redeployment as too late, too removed from the realm of operations of jihadist terrorism and the reason for extra assaults by these teams as a result of French presence within the territory.
The query is: can Operation Barkhane do higher in Niger? The evident failure of the French counter-terrorism mission in Mali leaves some sceptical, except there’s a radical change in technique, and extra risk-taking.
Final Sunday, Burkina’s President of the Transition visited Niger to satisfy with President Bazoum to debate safety points throughout the tri-border space, particularly within the areas of data, useful resource sharing and the operational facet of the combat in opposition to jihadism.
It needs to be remembered that Niger is the US base of operations in opposition to terrorism and that final week, because of the mediation of the President of Niger, an American nun who had been kidnapped since April was freed on account of negotiations between the Nigerien authorities and the Assist Group for Islam and Muslims.
Equally noteworthy is the work of the US in Niger the place many of the success in eliminating jihadist teams has been achieved on the idea of intelligence supplied by the Individuals. The Individuals present intelligence to France, additionally they present provides. Aerial refuelling is supplied, for about 30 to 40 per cent (of plane), by the US.
In line with France 24, there was no monetary compensation in trade for the discharge of the American nun. The terrorist group JNIM had requested for the discharge of 16 fighters, however just one is alleged to have been launched.
In line with native sources, the operation was reportedly carried out with out the assist of Western companions. The nun was transported to Niamey, the place a US particular forces helicopter was ready for her.
This launch is the primary main success of the Nigerian authorities’ negotiation coverage with the terrorists, which started a number of months in the past. President Mohamed Bazoum’s goal was to ask the jihadists to put down their arms.
Because of this Burkina Faso and Niger are contemplating joint operations on their territories with the intention to combat terrorism successfully. The knowledge comes from a press launch printed by the Burkina Faso presidency on Monday 22 August on Fb.
In line with officers from each international locations, this initiative goals not solely to reply to the challenges going through their varied nationwide armed forces, but in addition to regain management of the state of affairs. To this finish, the 2 states plan to strengthen cooperation within the discipline of defence via a army cooperation settlement and to extend joint operations on the bottom.
Past one-off operations, we plan to do common and everlasting operations to permit our forces to occupy the land, take management of the land and that we can not go away an inch to terrorists in each Niger and Burkina Faso,” stated Niger’s defence minister.
It needs to be famous that the Burkina Faso and Niger authorities additionally goal to develop their joint operations mission in Mali for higher synergy of actions and in Benin for extra convincing outcomes on the stage of their frequent borders.
That is the suitable method: the combat in opposition to jihadist terrorism within the Sahel should at all times be carried out first on the native stage after which on the regional stage, with worldwide help in a coordinated method, however at all times on the native stage.
Regional motion requires robust bilateral cooperation between Burkina Faso and Mali, and likewise between Burkina Faso and Niger, with the intention to overcome this lengthy border with Mali. With Niger, this bilateral cooperation already exists via the joint operation Taanli, an operation that takes place recurrently each six months. And with Mali, Burkina Faso is seeing to what extent it might probably really receive bilateral cooperation.
Equally, the international locations of the Gulf of Guinea should reinforce their safety as a result of jihadist terrorism has already made its presence felt in these international locations after the assaults that Côte d’Ivoire skilled between 2019 and 2020, focused Benin and Togo. Togo has already been attacked at the very least three or 4 occasions and assaults have gotten extra frequent and lethal. Benin has additionally been the goal of a number of assaults, which is why a brand new technique for the Sahel and a brand new regional technique are urgently wanted.
It needs to be recalled that France can be accompanying the Gulf of Guinea international locations which can be below menace from jihadist teams, however from Nigerian territory. However there will likely be no French forces deployed in Togo, no French forces deployed in Benin, no French [anti-terrorist] forces deployed in Côte d’Ivoire.
So there will likely be no French army presence in these international locations, however on a case-by-case foundation, from Nigerian territory, the French will accompany these international locations within the combat in opposition to terrorism. The creation of the Worldwide Academy for the Combat in opposition to Terrorism (AILCT), which will likely be arrange on 10 June 2021 in Jacqueville, close to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, can be essential.
In Benin, for instance, President Macron stated it is going to be primarily tools, coaching and intelligence sharing.
France has discovered the lesson after the exit from Mali and so they wish to be a lot much less seen, to be current with out being seen, that is the doctrine as we speak. So the technique is to be current with out being seen, offering assist to the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea international locations, however having a higher presence in Niger, from Niger, to operations in different international locations.
France has discovered from its unhealthy ends in Mali and, so as to not repeat the identical errors within the Gulf of Guinea, its new technique for army presence within the sub-region includes being current however not seen, adopting a low profile and letting the majority of counter-terrorism operations be carried out by the international locations of the area.
