DAKAR, Senegal, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. defense officials are meeting with African military leaders to discuss increasing cooperation in the Sahara desert region.
The annual meeting, which takes place on Feb. 6 and 7 in Dakar, is intended to foster the partnership between the European Command of the U.S. military and forces in north and west Africa. This year's gathering was intended to bolster local militaries to confront the threat of terrorism in the remote desert region, Voice of America reported.
U.S. General William Ward of the European Command says over 80 million dollars have been allocated to the partnership in President Bush's budget proposal for next year. The U.S. side of the partnership is likely to change hands in the near future, as the U.S. military is currently looking at ways to consolidate African operations, VOA reported.
"Over the coming months as the U.S. is hoping to look at roles and responsibilities we will ensure that whatever is done with the creation of the Africa Command brings 'value added' to the good work that's being done by the U.S. European command in Africa," Ward said.
Officials say that cooperation between the militaries led to the capture Muslim militants operating with the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, an organization that claimed to be planning attacks on American and French targets.
Ward said that increased cooperation is needed to ensure that the Sahara region does not become a remote base for terrorists.
The partnership currently comprises militaries from Algeria, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia, and the United States.
