Bamako meeting: joint patrols to chase Droudkel’s elements in Sahel

Bamako’s last meeting between the chiefs of staff in the Sahel region came up with the creation of joint security patrols to chase the so-called Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in the region, according to Malian foreign minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga.

• “The creation of those patrols between Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Algeria came after the intervention areas had been determined. There was an agreement on the necessity of the mobilisation of those countries’ security forces on their borders,” Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga told L’Indépendant newspaper.
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• Speaking about Algeria’s reject to French bases in the region, the minister said he believes that “Algeria’s situation is exactly like our situation. Efforts must be stepped up to counter terrorism through the reinforcement of regional efforts of the countries in the region.”
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• Asked about the French soldiers who are in the region, Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga said their presence “is part of cooperation between us and Paris in training, commandment and information exchange. It is not necessary to have permanent French bases in Mali. I think it is an occasional issue.”
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• Speaking about possible revenge attacks in the Sahel region following Ben Laden’s death, the Malian minister said Al-Qaeda does not have means to execute its threats.
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• “But this does not prevent them from making attempts. Because of that, all the countries in the region should step up their security reinforcements fearing of any possible attack,” he added.