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The Pan-Sahel Initiative, according to a November 7, 2002, Office of Counterterrorism, U.S. more...

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Department of State news release, is \"a State-led effort to assist Mali, Niger, Chad, and Mauritania in detecting and responding to suspicious movement of people and goods across and within their borders through training, equipment and cooperation. Its goals support two U.S. national security interests in Africa: waging the war on terrorism and enhancing regional peace and security.\" It has since been supeceded by the Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Initiative.

\"According to State Department officials, the Pan Sahel region of Africa has become important in the global security arena. Vast expanses of unpopulated areas, instability, porous borders and corruption make Africa an inviting playground for terrorists.\"

Voice of America's Alex Belida reported on November 14, 2003, that the \"multimillion dollar security training and equipment program\" was \"at last under way\" in Mali, \"a year after it was announced.\" The program was to continue in the other three countries \"over the next several months.\"

Belida said that \"Army Colonel John Schnibben, operations director at U.S. European Command, responsible for most of sub-Saharan Africa, says the effort could have a big pay-off for the United States and its Sahel partners.\"

Belida reported that in October 2002, \"AF DAS Robert Perry and S/CT Deputy Coordinator Stephanie Kinney, along with other State representatives, visited Chad, Niger, Mauritania and Mali, briefing host nations on the Pan Sahel Initiative (PSI) ... a program designed to protect borders, track movement of people, combat terrorism, and enhance regional cooperation and stability.\"

Beginning in November 2002, \"technical assessments\" took place in each country to \"help focus training and other capacity building resources.\" PSI was to \"assist participating countries to counter known terrorist operations and border incursions, as well as trafficking of people, illicit materials, and other goods.\"

In addition to the \"training and material support,\" the release states, another program would \"bring military and civilian officials from the four countries together to encourage greater cooperation and information exchange within and among the governments of the region on counterterrorism and border security issues.\"

The Associated Press reported on May 6, 2004, that \"The European Command has proposed expanding the Pan-Sahel Initiative to include Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, where terror threats are believed to be growing....\"

In the May 11, 2004, New York Times, Craig Smith writes that the \"U.S. Training African Forces to Uproot Terrorists.\" In the May 11, 2004, New York Times, Craig Smith writes that the \"U.S. Training African Forces to Uproot Terrorists.\"

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