Sahel Countries Must Isolate Terrorists From Back Up Cells

Sahel countries need a clear and explicit cooperation with neighboring countries to prevent terrorists from moving freely and isolating them from their clients and their back up cells, Major-General Cherif Zerrad, head of the Department of Utilization and Preparation at the National People’s Army, asserted on Tuesday, from Mauritania.

“Algeria is seeking to maintain the joint operational staff committee, which includes Algeria and a number of Sahel countries, with the aim of combating terrorism and organized crime in the region”.

In a statement that was issued by the National Defense Ministry, which copy was received by Echorouk Online, the Major General, Cherif Zerrad, asserted the keenness of the Supreme Command of the National People’s Army to maintain this framework of cooperation, which is represented by the Joint Staff Committee, through which the chiefs of staff of the armies of the neighboring countries exchange analyzes and opinions freely on topics related to the security field in our region.

“In view of the transnational nature of terrorism, the fight against this scourge must be recognized in the framework of clear and explicit cooperation among neighboring countries, based on complementary measures that aim at preventing terrorists from freedom of movement, isolating them from their clients and their back up cells, relying primarily on the capabilities of the self-resistance of each country with mutual cooperation, because the actions that are taken by a country alone can not achieve the desired goal”.

Algeria, according to the statement, participated in the meeting of the committee on Tuesday in Nouakchott at the invitation of Brigadier Mohamed Ould Cheikh Mohamed, Commander-in-Chief of the General Staff of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and current Chairman of the Joint Committee of Chiefs of Staff. 

The meeting was an opportunity for the military officials of these countries to study and assess the security situation in the Sahel and exchange analyzes and lessons that are learned since the last meeting of the Joint Operational Staff Committee that was held on October,28, 2016 in Bamako, Mali.

The Joint Committee of Chiefs of Staff has four countries, which are: Algeria, Mali, Niger and Mauritania, which role is controversial, especially after the establishment of a joint regional force to combat terrorism in the Sahel region, under the initiative of the President Emmanuel Macron, and it includes Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad, and has 5000 elements and costs 423 million euros, as it will start its functions before the end of this year.