Geopolitical contingencies must overlap against terrorist Groups

By African Bulletin on May 20, 2011

Terrorist groups have always appreciated conflicting areas and instability. They are their green houses where they are born,

grow up and expand their influence.  The civil war in Libya is one more golden opportunity to enlarge their authority within the Sahel-Saharan region. The great movement of migrants, back to their countries of origin, is an opportunity for mercenaries to move arms, ammunitions and supply from conflict zones. Recently, the Sahel-sahara states are convinced and have the will to oust these terrorist groups outside their borders; unfortunately, they are desperately facing the lack of the logistics to conduct such business safely. However, one solution, that had raised hopes, was the commitment of Western countries to help fight these terrorists and mercenaries, and in particular the commitment of the Americans, except that the Pentagon, as usual, preferred to be on the field. In this context, a projection of a U.S African Command (Africom) was specially designed to operate in   Africa. But no country was willing to host this force on its territory. This political decision is still seen as a contradiction with the all known terrorist threat magnitude in the Sahel-Sahara band. The jihadists’ influence in this vast region is so uncontrollable and none of Mali, Mauritania, and Niger alone has the material ability to control the vast desert they share. Algeria remains that country, having strong military means and enough experience but not yet a common strategy with the neighboring countries to fight these groups. In short, no strategy, “No” to the AFRICOM or any other form of assistance, in the name of countries’ sovereignty, will continue to kill any good idea because of geo-political contingencies that have weakened trust for a common future. But all concerned neighboring countries know that any strategic collision of their separate approaches, in combating terrorism, won’t serve their interests…