UK steps up military involvement in West Africa

The UK has pledged to significantly step up its military presence in West Africa, training local forces to fight Islamist extremist groups in the Sahel. 

250 British soldiers are due to join the UN mission in Mali later this year in what has been described as the most dangerous peacekeeping operation in the world. 

They join a team of 30 UK soldiers and Royal Marines in Senegal, who have been training special forces from a number of West African nations in a US-led counter-terrorism exercise involving more than 1,600 troops. 

Maj John House, who has been leading the British training task-force in Senegal, said it was in Britain’s best interest to become more involved in the region.

“If we don’t act we may find the problems getting closer to our door”, he said. “The more they have a presence in the region, the more we can feel the effect back in the UK”. 

There are currently multiple extremist groups operating across the Sahel region, including those linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda. 

Commander Djibril Diawara of the Senegalese Armed Forces described the situation as “alarming”. 

Almost 200 UN peacekeepers have already lost their lives in Mali. The 5000 French troops currently stationed in the country have also suffered losses. 

Photo: BBC