Sahel countries have been facing a major jihadist insurgency since the 2000s. The deployment of Barkhane, G5 Sahel, or more recently Takuba forces has still not succeeded in curbing this phenomenon, which is now spreading to the coastal countries of West Africa.
A few weeks after Emmanuel Macron announced the end of the Barkhane operation, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio announced on Monday 28 June his country's intention to set up a rapid intervention force to counter the growing terrorist threat in the region. This was on the sidelines of a meeting of the coalition against the Islamic State. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he supports the initiative.
"With the support of the United States and many other partners, I have proposed the creation of an African task force to identify and stop terrorist threats linked to Islamism on the continent," the head of Italian diplomacy said. He then announced that African countries that were not initially part of the coalition, including Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Mozambique, had been invited to the meeting.
While no further details were given on how this future force would operate, experts believe it would probably build on the work done by French forces in the framework of Operation Barkhane. Also, this force should be extended to other countries such as Nigeria or Mozambique.
Over the past few years, the terrorist threat has increased in the Sahel. In a recent publication, the news website specializing in military strategy and geopolitics, military.com, warned that the risk of an Islamic caliphate being established in the Sahel region was very high.
Mawulolo Ahlijah
• Global coffee consumption projected to hit a record 169.4 million 60-kg bags in 2025/2026, up from...
In a West African financial landscape marked by tighter regulation of the fintech sector, digital fi...
• BOAD releases CFA10 billion ($17.8 million) to support Boungou and Wahgnion gold mines.• Burkina F...
Transport and food prices have been climbing steadily across Africa in recent years. In Côte d’Ivoir...
• Burkina Faso-based financial group, Vista Group Holding, has acquired a majority stake in Société ...
• Algeria grants commercial 5G licenses to top three telecom operators: Mobilis, Djezzy, and Ooredoo • License award comes on stream as part of the...
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has authorized a $262.3 million disbursement for Ethiopia, taking total payments under Extended Credit...
• ECOWAS Bank funds 47.7-km stretch of strategic 700-km road project• Lagos-Calabar highway seen boosting regional trade and investment• Part of broader...
• IFAD initiates a program worth $358.26 million to bolster dairy sector in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda • The program, called DaIMA, aims...
The Gerewol tradition is a fascinating ritual celebrated by the Bororo Fulani, a nomadic community primarily located in Chad and Niger. This annual...
In northern Ethiopia, in the Tigray region, lies Axum (also spelled Aksum), an ancient city that once stood at the heart of one of Africa’s most powerful...