- Title: ALGERIA: US will continue supporting Somali government says top US commander
- Date: 27th November 2009
- Summary: ALGEIRS, ALGERIA (NOVEMBER 25, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF US MILITARY'S AFRICA GENERAL WILLIAM E. WARD AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) US MILITARY'S AFRICA GENERAL WILLIAM E. WARD SAYING "The main role of the United States Africa Command is to help promote a safe and secure African continent and its Island nations. During my visit here to Algeirs, I will be meeting with Algerian military and civilian leadership to discuss how the command can assist in areas of common interest including countering violent extremism. The terrorist and criminal activity in the Maghreb and Sahara region is a threat to the entire region and beyond and the countries of this regions are on the front-line in the battle against violent extremists. We support the role of Africa and we appreciate Algeria's leadership in addressing security and counter-terrorism issues that affect these nations. The United States has been and remains committed to working with these governments to help combat terrorism and to help ensure stability in Algeria and in the wider region." VARIOUS OF GENERAL WARD AT NEWS CONFERENCE / AUDIENCE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) US MILITARY'S AFRICA GENERAL WILLIAM E. WARD SAYING: "We have no plans to establish US military bases anywhere" Audience members making notes (SOUNDBITE) (English) US MILITARY'S AFRICA GENERAL WILLIAM E. WARD SAYING: "You are aware of our base we have in East Africa in Djibouti and that, we inherited that from Central Command, that stays there but there are no plans to establish any others." CUTAWAY / AUDIENCE MEMBER MAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (English) US MILITARY'S AFRICA GENERAL WILLIAM E. WARD SAYING: "What's going on in Somalia, did not just get that way, it will not correct itself overnight either (followed by french translation). And so the current policy that has international support -not just from the United States - to reinforce, to help the transition federal government and be supportive of the African Union mission to Somalia is where we, the United States of America, see our major contribution." WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) US MILITARY'S AFRICA GENERAL WILLIAM E. WARD SAYING: "So the United States policy of supporting the transition federal government, of supporting AMASOM, of supporting other nations of Africa who also support both of these entities, are the things that we do in a concrete way. To include the equipping, the training of those forces that have gone to Somalia under AMASOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) who help promote stability inside of that country."
- Embargoed: 12th December 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Algeria
- Country: Algeria
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA87LPFKU4XY5KAUKAD3X5FX5YQ
- Story Text: The United States will persevere with its policy of supporting Somalia's fragile government because restoring security there will take time, the top U.S. military commander for Africa said on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters in the Algerian capital Algeirs, US Military's Africa General William E. Ward opened the news conference by stating the aim of his visit to Algeria.
"The main role of the United States Africa Command is to help promote a safe and secure African continent and its Island nations. During my visit here to Algeirs, I will be meeting with Algerian military and civilian leadership to discuss how the command can assist in areas of common interest including countering violent extremism. The terrorist and criminal activity in the Maghreb and Sahara region is a threat to the entire region and beyond and the countries of this regions are on the front-line in the battle against violent extremists," he said.
"We support the role of Africa and we appreciate Algeria's leadership in addressing security and counter-terrorism issues that affect these nations. The United States has been and remains committed to working with these governments to help combat terrorism and to help ensure stability in Algeria and in the wider region," Ward added.
On Somalia, the US General said that it will take time to restore security in Somalia and that the US will continue backing the Somali government.
"What's going on in Somalia, did not just get that way, it will not correct itself overnight either (followed by french translation). And so the current policy that has international support -not just from the United States - to reinforce, to help the transition federal government and be supportive of the African Union mission to Somalia is where we, the United States of America, see our major contribution," he said.
The U.S. military has been providing weapons and training to forces loyal to Somalia's President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, but the government still only controls a few blocks of the capital with the rest of the country in the hands of Islamist rebels.
The al Shabaab militant group, who Washington says are al Qaeda's proxy in Somalia, have been waging a two-and-a-half year insurgency against the central government to impose their harsh version of Sharia law throughout the country.
Troops from the African Union are protecting government sites in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.
Western security agencies say Somalia has become a safe haven for militants who use it to plot attacks on Western targets, and also as a bolt-hole for pirates who have been hijacking ships in the Indian Ocean.
Ward was in the Algerian capital for meetings with officials that focused on the threat from violent extremism in another part of Africa, around the Sahara desert.
He said the United States military would continue to provide counter-terrorism training to Sahara region governments but that there were no plans for U.S. forces to take part directly in operations against insurgents.
"So the United States policy of supporting the transition federal government, of supporting AMASOM, of supporting other nations of Africa who also support both of these entities, are the things that we do in a concrete way. To include the equipping, the training of those forces that have gone to Somalia under AMASOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) who help promote stability inside of that country."
Diplomats say al Qaeda-linked rebels who have been fighting the Algerian government have in the past few years shifted some of their activities south into the Sahara, staging attacks in countries including Mali and Mauritania. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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