Sahel states arming civilians for a more effective fight against terrorists

Aya Ezz

There is an upsurge of terrorist activities in the African Sahel region.

This is probably why the governments of the countries of the region are arming local civilians, especially youth, in their hope that these civilians would be part of their counterterrorism efforts, according to the Mogadishu Center for Political and Strategic Studies.

The parliament of Burkina Faso approved in January a request by the government to financing the arming of local vigilantes. This made Burkina Faso the first African Sahel country to arm its people in the fight against terrorism.

Weak armies

The Mogadishu Center for Political and Strategic Studies attributed the move to the weakness of regional armies.

These armies, it said, need huge amounts of money and arms and logistical support to be fit for the fight against terrorist organizations.

There is also a dearth of trained soldiers, the center said.

African affairs specialist Mohamed Ezzeddine referred to major logistical and financial aid to the states of the region from France and the UK.

Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger provided their armies with weapons and the necessary training, Ezzeddine said.

France is also contributing to the training of the armies of the region, he added.

He told The Reference that the governments of the three states are turning to local youth by offering them military training and weapons so that they can back their countries’ armies in their fight against terrorist groups.

He added that France also provided the army of Niger with weapons so that it can move ahead in its counterterrorism efforts.

Most effective

The Future Center for Advanced Research and Studies said civilians can be more effective than armies in the fight against terrorism in Africa.

It added in a study on the same issue that armed civilians would be more capable of providing locals with security than the security establishment in their countries.

It said civilians know the local languages in these countries and are more familiar with local cultures.