The US has been providing military aid to West African countries, including Burkina Faso, as part of the war on terror. However, despite this aid, violent extremism in the region has worsened, with tens of thousands of people killed and over 2 million displaced. After a military coup in Burkina Faso, the US cut off aid, citing laws against supporting governments that come to power by force.
The report features an interview with Admiral Sands, the top commander for US special forces in Africa, who acknowledges that the US has laws against supporting governments that come to power by force, but also notes that the US has a responsibility to support the development of military forces in the region.
The report also features an interview with a human rights defender who has documented over 700 cases of extrajudicial killings and disappearances by the Burkina Faso military. The military has denied these allegations, but the report suggests that the US knew about these allegations and continued to provide support to the military.
The report also explores the possibility that Burkina Faso may turn to new partners, such as Russia, for support, and notes that this could have destabilizing consequences for the region.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The US military has a training exercise called Flintlock that brings special forces from the US, EU, and UK to train soldiers from across Africa.
2. The exercise aims to help African countries defend themselves against terrorism.
3. The US has been holding Flintlock training exercises since 2005 as part of its "War on Terror".
4. The Sahel desert region in Africa has been a main focus of the US War on Terror efforts.
5. Extremist groups have recruited fighters and launched international attacks from the Sahel region.
6. The US has poured hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid into West African countries.
7. France has deployed thousands of troops to West Africa.
8. Despite international efforts, violent extremism in the Sahel region is getting worse.
9. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and over 2 million have been displaced in the Sahel region.
10. Local militaries have taken a more drastic approach to dealing with extremism, including coups.
11. There have been at least 11 attempted or successful coups in West Africa.
12. The most recent successful coup was in Burkina Faso.
13. The Burkina Faso government had failed to handle the growing number of militants linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
14. The US has laws against providing military aid to a government that took power by force.
15. The US ended its military aid to Burkina Faso after the coup.
16. The US has laws against providing military aid to forces that commit human rights abuses.
17. Despite this, the US continued to provide military aid to Burkina Faso even after allegations of human rights abuses surfaced.
18. A human rights defender has documented around 700 extrajudicial killings suspected to be committed by the Burkina Faso military.
19. The US has provided humanitarian funding to help expose human rights abuses in Burkina Faso.
20. The US military cannot legally help forces that commit human rights abuses.
21. The Burkina Faso military has been accused of ethnically targeting, arresting, and executing civilians.
22. The US ended its military support to Burkina Faso after the coup, but continued to provide humanitarian aid.
23. The Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary organization, has been accused of war crimes in numerous countries.
24. There are concerns that countries like Burkina Faso may turn to the Wagner Group for support due to the lack of foreign aid.
25. The US is concerned about the Wagner Group's influence in Africa and its potential to destabilize countries.