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A Canadian diplomat who was detained by al-Qaida terrorists in the Sahara desert for 130 days says that the shock of Canada in Defense should include commitments to fight against Islamic growth terrorism Threats to Africa – a threat which, according to him, does not draw the attention it deserves.
Robert Fowler says that it would take “a very important and serious effort to eradicate” the groups that have taken root West Africa The Sahel region – in particular Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali – and that US military officials say they are fighting to access the west coast, which would increase their ability to attack North America.
“There is nothing that we can say who will dissuade these people from doing what they do-I have certainly learned that in the sand,” he told Mercedes Stephenson in an interview broadcast on Sunday The western block.
“They are deeply, absolutely committed and are obviously ready to die in this commitment. It would therefore take a very important and serious effort to eradicate them, because they will not be convinced not to do it. ”
Fowler, the oldest Canadian ambassador to the United Nations and the advisor of three former prime ministers, was captured by activists with the Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) terrorist group in December 2008 when he was as a UN special, Niger.
He was released with other Western captives the following April.
Since then, the presence of AQIM and other Islamic militant groups in the Sahel region has only growed, putting attacks on civilians while claiming large territory.
Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali are currently governed by military junts who have taken power by coups in the past two years, with various degrees of Islamic influence.
About 5,000 civilians were killed in violence in these three countries in the first five months of this year, according to The location and event data project for armed conflictsAn increase of 25% compared to the previous five months.
The loss of French and American soldiers from the region in recent months has still created a power vacuum, say experts like Fowler.
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General Michael Langley, commander of the American command of Africa, told journalists last week The fact that the withdrawal of the American army of Niger and an important basis for the fight against terrorism there last September means that it “lost our ability to closely monitor these terrorist groups”, while violent attacks in Sahel continue to increase both in “frequency and complexity”.
He added that American forces are “standing with” local soldiers in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Benin to prevent these groups from reaching their coasts.
“If they guarantee access to the coast, they can finance their operations by smuggling, trafficking in human beings and arms trade,” said Langley in a press conference.
“This not only puts African nations in danger, but also increases the risk of threats reaching the American coast.”
Fowler said Canada also faces this risk, in particular the threat of individual acts of violence in the name of groups like Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
“I think it’s right to say that Islamic terrorism has not been beaten,” he said.
“Whatever success we had in Iraq, and the non-sucks that we had in Afghanistan, in no way blunt the Djihadi movement, and we will therefore have to be extremely vigilant.”
He added that Western governments are not ready to commit the investments and the military capacities necessary to eliminate these threats in Africa.
“Whatever they should do, they will not do for all kinds of reasons, most of which have nothing to do with Africa,” he said. “There are other problems and other concerns, and everyone needs money for these different things, and that does not leave much to Africa.
“The French had 5,000 high-level soldiers there for years, and they could not do it. It would take much more than that. But no, I don’t think we have the will to do so. ”
The new Canadian Africa strategy, published in March, engages more than $ 30 million in “peace and security” projects In the Sahel and other regions affected by conflicts such as Sudan, but mainly focus on humanitarian aid and civilian support.
The Canadian forces ended his peacekeeping mission in Mali in 2023 and have considerably reduced his presence on the continent.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is committed to strengthening border security, based on the promises of the previous liberal government to improve the screening of entry points and suppress illegal passages and smuggling.
Fowler said the African threat should still inspire the Canadian government to spend “much more” for the defense, which he said has been “pitiful” for years.
Carney has promised to obtain Defense of Canada at the target NATO target level by 2% of GDP by 2030, and the liberal platform has promised 30 million dollars of new expenses over the next four years. The government spent just over 1.3% last year.
“We don’t have to think of great things about President Trump, but that doesn’t mean that he’s not mistaken when he criticizes our defense performances,” said Fowler.
“He is right: we have obtained a free journey for years, especially in continental defense.”
Although he would not go so far as to recommend Canada Spatial anti -missile defense concept of the “golden dome of TrumpFowler said it was “illogical” that Canada is not part of the current American ballistic defense initiative and similar programs.
“We have to convince a lot of Americans that we do our part, that we are sovereigns and that we are committed to staying, because I think Canadians deserve this kind of defense of their territory,” he said.
Asked what advice he would give to Carney, Fowler simply said, “Connect.”
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