UNITED NATIONS — The foreign minister of Burkina Faso warned Thursday that terrorist activity in Africa’s volatile Sahel region is gaining ground and there is “a very real risk” of destabilizing much of West Africa. Ambassador Jonathan Cohen said the Trump administration continues to believe bilateral aid is the best way to support the G5 force and has committed approximately $111 million to G5 nations including for equipment and training. “These examples can be complemented by numerous other attacks in Mali, Niger and other countries, and are proof of the persistent terrorist threat in the Sahel,” Barry said. Barry said the Sahel today is seeing dozens of victims every month from ambushes, abductions, targeted killings and attacks using improvised explosive devices. “The Sahel countries are facing an uncontrollable humanitarian situation,” he said, with over half a million children in Mali and Burkina Faso together deprived of schooling, and around 150,000 people in Burkina Faso and 600,000 in Chad displaced by fighting and insecurity.

Source: Washington Post May 17, 2019 01:06 UTC