WEST AFRICA


counterparts in the participating countries in military tactics critical to enhancing regional security and stability. In November 2009, US Assistant


Secretary of State for African Affairs


Johnnie Carson gave


testimony before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations’ hearing on counterterrorism in the Sahel region. Carson stated that key countries in the area, including Algeria, Mali and Mauritania, have intensified efforts


to coordinate


their activities against al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and that the US had consulted with African and European partners to identify areas where the US could more effectively support regional security efforts. Carson cautioned against the US taking actions that could increase local tensions or lend gravitas to AQIM’s claims of legitimacy.


He went on to SPRING 2012 EDITION


state


that


the


countries


in


the


region have stated that the Sahel’s security is their own responsibility, and had not asked the US to take on a leadership role, citing that this could be counter-productive. Carson pledged the US’ ongoing support for regional security efforts. Under the Obama administration, the US has cooperated more closely with Africa on security issues and on establishing good governance and respect


human rights. Carson stated that progress in these areas is essential to the success of


the struggle


against groups such as AQIM, who take advantage of political and economic vulnerabilities. In 2010,


the Centre on Global


Counterterrorism Cooperation, a US-based think tank, published a report entitled ‘Implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in West Africa’. The report


found that member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) were increasingly aware that terrorism is a threat to the economic development and security of the region and that it required a more coordinated response.


However, West Africa for


lacks a sub-regional counterterrorism framework and a mechanism for facilitating cooperation and capacity building activities to deal with the threat.


case for West African to develop their


The report made the countries


counterterrorism


capabilities and cooperation using the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy, adopted by the General Assembly in 2006, as their point of departure. The UN Strategy emphasises the links between terrorism and other transnational threats and situates terrorism within a comprehensive peace and security framework. The Centre on Global


9 CounterTerrorGazette


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