Photo: U.S. Department of Defense (Flickr)
In the outer regions of the Sahara, Islamist extremists have been steadily increasing their influence. The number of terrorist attacks and abductions of westerners have been growing.
In the political vacuum of North and West Africa, the Islamists have a potential stronghold from which to re-group and launch attacks against the West. To prevent this region from descending into chaos, the international community and UN must give assistance to governments wherever possible.
We have seen a bold response from France aided by Britain, in Mali after armed militant Islamist groups linked to Al-Qaeda attempted to seize large areas in the north of the country. In January, with UN backing French President, François Hollande ordered a military ground assault supported by West African troops, followed by a series of strategic military strikes targeted against Islamist rebels.
Mali was a French colony until 1960, after which a series of military rulers governed for decades, until democratic elections in 1992. It remained politically stable until March last year, when a government coup occurred led by a group of soldiers angry with their government’s response to Tuareg rebels in the north. Local Al Qaeda-linked groups took advantage of the power vacuum, and took control of large areas in the north.
Speaking to Radio Europe 1, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian explained France’s aim was to “eradicate” terrorism within the region. North African terrorist groups pose a general risk to western nations, however due the location to France and its historical ties to the region, it is no surprise that such rhetoric is being used.
François Hollande’s intervention so far has been viewed as a success internationally. Following the liberation of Timbuktu from the fundamentalist rebels, Hollande proclaimed victory. The swift and surgical French intervention, with UN backing and collaboration with African nations, is seen as a blueprint for future interventions.
However with a key part of the French campaign over, we cannot be certain whether of a lasting peace. In order to prevent the return of the rebels, and a possible guerrilla war, France must maintain a military presence in Mali.
The United States stayed out of the conflict in Mali, however, according the Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), terrorist safe havens in the North of Africa pose a real threat to the security of the United States. Following the recent terrorist attack in Algeria, McCaul compared North Africa to thee “Lawless safe havens in Afghanistan”. This is becoming the mainstream view in Washington, and may have played a part in the creation of a new drone program in North Africa by the Obama administration.
With the potential for North Africa to become the new Afghanistan, it is crucial that the international community continue to evaluate military options. Security in the region must be a priority; only through a coordinated international effort can we truly prevent extremists from gaining a foothold.
Martin Edobor writes about health and foreign policy. Follow on Twitter @martinedobor
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