The Fight Against Terrorism At The Heart Of The USA-Africa Summit

Security issues were at the heart of discussions at the US-Africa summit currently being held in Washington. The African continent faces terrorism, particularly in the Sahel. But also in the east, in lia, where the capital Mogadishu is regularly attacked.

“The last fifteen years, these terrorist groups were in the foreground. They almost controlled most of lia, that is to say rural lia. So we launched a strategy. The Shabab, or the terrorists, wherever they are, cannot be defeated by military means alone,” li President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said.

“We listen to what is important to the leaders of the region and the countries concerned. And we want to understand what is really important to you. And to go further, we want to make sure that we are doing what ‘it takes to develop and strengthen your security forces and help you work on your security model in a way that you find beneficial and that will certainly promote regional stability,“ said U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin.

The President of Niger, who has just launched an operation to mobilize former retired soldiers to support the army, also spoke about terrorism.

“We considered that to face this scourge, we had to combine several actions. The first consists in promoting democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights despite everything. Precisely because we have a challenge ahead,” said Mohamed Bazoum.

To regain influence on the continent, the United States has put its hand in the wallet, and promised to devote “55 billion dollars to Africa over three years”.