Robert Besser
15 Mar 2023, 05:49 GMT+10
ACCRA, Ghana: Amid the spread of extremist violence in West Africa's Sahel region, the US military has launched its annual military training exercise, entitled Flintlock, aimed at helping armies contain the region's jihadi threats.
The US stated it aims to assist African countries curb the threats posed by extremists before they spread further in the the region.
As part of Flintlock, which began this week, 1,300 military personnel from 29 African countries are training in Ghana and Ivory Coast in counter-insurgency tactics.
The two-week exercise comes amid rising jihadi violence linked to Islamist groups al-Qaida and the Islamic State, which killed thousands, displaced millions and has plunged African countries into crises.
Despite most extremist activities being concentrated in West Africa's inland Sahel region in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, the crisis is now spreading to coastal states, such as Ghana.
This year's Flintlock exercise is taking place amid growing anti-French sentiment in West Africa. Mali's and Burkina Faso's military juntas are now receiving military support from Russia, and Mali is also working with private Russian mercenary outfit, the Wagner Group.
"If the instability gets too broad or too bad then it opens the aperture for other malign actors to try and influence and try and corrupt the messaging to gain access to some of these governments," said US Col. Rob Zyla, deputy commander for Special Operations Command Africa, as quoted by the Associated Press.
Additionally, Ghanaian military officials say jihadis could soon work with local pirates, which will harm economic activity in the coastal countries.
Colonel William Nortey with the Ghanaian army noted, "We already know that they have intent to link up with piracy and enhance operations," he told the Associated Press.
"The reality of the state of affairs in our neighborhood demands that the government goes to great lengths to ensure the security, safety and stability of our nation," noted Ghanian President Nana Akufo-Addo in his State of the Nation address this week.
Rukmini Sanyal, Ghana analyst for the Economist Intelligence Unit, said that extreme poverty, high inflation and the shortage of jobs for young men have created favorable conditions for jihadi recruitment.
Get a daily dose of Baton Rouge Post news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Baton Rouge Post.
More InformationNEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks extended their rally on Friday despite remarks by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell ...
MOSCOW, Russia: Russia's trade in oil with India, one of the most lucrative oil trade routes since the imposition of ...
LONDON - Health experts and tobacco campaigners have strongly criticized New Zealand's decision to repeal laws that aimed to ban ...
NEW YORK, New York - The Dow Jones index was the standout on U.S. financial markets on Thursday with a ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: Despite the ongoing economic uncertainty, major discounts during the Thanksgiving weekend enticed U.S. shoppers, who spent some US$38 ...
BANGKOK, Thailand: This week, Thailand's Deputy Finance Minister Krisada Chinavicharana said after a weaker-than-expected third quarter, the country will downgrade ...
VERMONT, USA - An Irish-Palestinian-U.S. citizen was among three university students of Palestinian descent injured in a shooting on Saturday ...
DUBAI, UAE: On November 24, countries participating in a five-day conference hosted by the International Civil Aviation Organization in Dubai ...
A Russian court on Friday ordered American Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva to remain in custody until February 5.The editor for ...
Dubai [UAE], December 2 (ANI): The FMBA Head of Oceans and Natural Resources, Commonwealth Secretariat Dr Nicholas Hardman-Mountford said on ...
united nations - Israel has told the United Nations that it will not renew the visa of its resident and ...
London - Finland has closed its entire 1,340 kilometer-long border with Russia after accusing Moscow of 'instrumentalizing' asylum-seekers by sending ...