Five African countries conduct military exercises in Niger to combat terrorism

The Nigerien National Army announced the start of military exercises to combat terrorism, with the participation of the armies of the Sahel countries (Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso), in addition to the armies of Chad and Togo, which the statement described as “two friendly countries.”

The statement, issued the day before yesterday, Saturday, indicated that the maneuvers are taking place under the name “Tarhna Kali,” which is a term from the “Tamasheq” language spoken by the Tuareg in the Sahara region, and means “love of the homeland.”

The maneuvers include military training at a Nigerien Special Forces center in the city of Tilia in the Tahoua region, close to the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, an area where armed groups loyal to Al-Qaeda and ISIS are active, and which in recent weeks has witnessed an escalation in terrorist attacks, which… It resulted in the deaths of dozens of civilians and more than 10 soldiers.

The military maneuvers aim to “enhance the operational capabilities and steadfastness of the armed forces of the Sahel coalition in the face of potential threats,” by implementing “tactical maneuvers and initiatives to strengthen relations with the local population.”

The maneuvers extend for two weeks, from May 20 to June 3, under the supervision of the leaders of the military institutions of the five countries, and the number of participating soldiers or the percentage of countries attending has not been officially announced.

The armies of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso are considered the backbone of the maneuvers, while Chad shares its extensive military experience in confronting terrorist groups, as it has fought military operations in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso during the last decade.

On the other hand, Togo is considered the least experienced in dealing with terrorism, as it began to face lightning terrorist attacks in recent years on its border with Burkina Faso and is seeking to prepare to confront the increasing danger.

The exercises focus on enhancing cooperation between the armies of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, which suffer more from terrorist attacks, as the border triangle between these countries has been a center for terrorist groups for years, as French forces failed to control it during their presence.

70 militants were killed in a military operation by the Chadian army