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 Iran Herald 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 Iran Herald.
More InformationLONDON, England: Reuters has reported that struggling Virgin Orbit, owned by billionaire Richard Branson, is nearing a $200-million investment deal ...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: To comply with the requirements of the "Made in America" laws, a $7.5 billion federal ...
LONDON, England: During a Bloomberg conference held in London this week, Luke Ellis, CEO of hedge fund Man Group, said ...
NEW YORK, New York - Wall Street jumped on Friday, although gains were modest after bank shares in Europe came ...
LOS ANGELES, California: Some 30,000 education workers in Los Angeles, backed by teachers, went on a three-day strike, canceling school ...
LONDON, England: Despite rising air fares, a potential global economic recession and risks of gridlock at some airports in Europe ...
JERUSALEM - Israel's defense minister became the first ally in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition to break ranks Saturday as ...
Jerusalem - A drive by the hard-right coalition government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to enact sweeping changes to Israel's ...
MUQDADIYAH, Iraq - Hussein Maytham and his family were driving past the palm tree grove near their home after shopping ...
Brussels is reportedly concerned about an uptick in dual-use items being shipped to Central AsiaThe EU may introduce trade restrictions ...
BEIRUT - Iran-backed fighters were on alert in eastern Syria on Saturday, a day after U.S. forces launched retaliatory airstrikes ...
Tamil Nadu (Chennai) [India], March 25 (ANI): The second G20 Framework Working Group (FWG) meeting under India's G20 Presidency concluded ...