- Title: NIGER: U.S. military leads counter-terrorism exercise in Niger
- Date: 19th February 2014
- Summary: NIAMEY, NIGER (FEBRUARY 19, 2014) (REUTERS) AIRCRAFT ON TARMAC U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL STANDING ON TARMAC U.S. AIR FORCE PERSONNEL SHAKING HANDS WITH SOLDIERS PARTICIPATING IN EXERCISE AIR FORCE PERSONNEL CLOSE OF WRITING ON SHIRT OF PARTICIPANT READING (English): 'U.S. AIR FORCE' PARTICIPANTS STANDING TOGETHER FOR PHOTOGRAPH (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMMANDER OF JOINT SPECIAL TASK FORCE TRANS-SAHARA, COLONEL KENNETH SIPPERLY, U.S. AIR FORCE, SAYING: "All of the partner nations from Africa that are here participating are affected by extremism, by the threat of extremism and by the threats that surround the area through the Trans-Sahel region." VARIOUS PARTICIPANTS SEATED DURING CEREMONY (SOUNDBITE) (French) NIGER'S COORDINATOR FOR FLINTLOCK, COLONEL LAMINE MAHAMANE SANI, SAYING: "Flintlock 2014 that is held today in Niger is an annual African exercise on security, the fight against terrorism and for humanitarian activities." PARTICIPANTS LISTENING TO SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (French) NIGER'S COORDINATOR FOR FLINTLOCK, COLONEL LAMINE MAHAMANE SANI, SAYING: "The objective is to improve, with the combined support of special forces from the United States, Canada, European countries, the operational capacities for the Sahel-Saharan countries, putting together their human, material and financial potential to contain various threats." MACHINERY TRANSFERRING ITEMS AHEAD OF EXERCISE VARIOUS OF U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL STANDING TOGETHER CLOSE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND GEAR MILITARY PERSONNEL SEATED TOGETHER INTERIOR OF FLINTLOCK OPERATIONAL COORDINATION CENTER AT THE MILITARY BASE IN NIAMEY VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS SEATED AT DESKS IN ROOM
- Embargoed: 6th March 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Niger
- Country: Niger
- Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA2OWNYUY1FT3I4DXZA5SLPY791
- Story Text: Exercise Flintlock kicked off at a military base in Niamey on Wednesday (February 19), with more than 1,000 personnel from 18 countries gathered for the annual training event.
The United States-led military exercises focus on training troops for counter-terrorism efforts in the Sahel region.
U.S. Commander of the Joint Special Task Force Trans-Sahara, Colonel Kenneth Sipperly, said all participating countries were affected by extremism.
"All of the partner nations from Africa that are here participating are affected by extremism, by the threat of extremism and by the threats that surround the area through the Trans-Sahel region," said Colonel Kenneth Sipperly.
The annual exercise first began in 2005, and changes locations within the Sahel region each year.
The training is sponsored by U.S. Africa-command, the military outfit known as AFRICOM that was set up to coordiate U.S. military activity on the contient.
This year's Flintlock is in Niger, where the U.S. has deployed about 100 military personnel and unarmed surveillance drones after a French-led military operation in January 2013 destroyed an al Qaeda enclave in neighboring Mali.
"Flintlock 2014 that is held today in Niger is an annual African exercise on security, the fight against terrorism and for humanitarian activities," said Niger's Coordinator for Flintlock, Colonel Lamine Mahamane Sani.
"The objective is to improve, with the combined support of special forces from the United States, Canada, European countries, the operational capacities for the Sahel-Saharan countries, putting together their human, material and financial potential to contain various threats," he added.
Washington has been stepping up cooperation with Niger's government, which is seen as one of the most stable in the turbelent Sahel region.
The exercise will continue to March 9 and includes troops from Niger, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania and more. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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