Fighting Terrorism and the issue of the Sahel -Mujao in the eye of the storm

Since the outbreak of the crisis in Mali and distribution is the territory of the neighbouring country, the Algerian security services have not been slow to redeploy accordingly in order to monitor all developments that could take place at the vast territory with which Algeria shares with Azawad which amounts to hundreds of kilometres.
 
The fact is not new, but after the news reports of the execution of an Algerian consular officer by Mujao terrorists and threats by terrorist group to attack Algeria, The  ANP DRS and GIS are reviewing their operational mechanism and have mobilised their men along the southern borders in a state of high alert.
 
Highly concerned about its geographical proximity, Algeria has no intention of letting the various Western intelligence services including the Americans, French, Spanish, British and Italians occupy land because they may suffer terrorist attacks against their territory. According to credible sources, large amounts of equipment for special forces have been sent recently to the town of Tamanrasset and its region.
 
Helicopters and military aircraft have been based there for weeks. Everything is ready to launch pre emptive strikes against terrorist groups scattered across this vast desert. On the ground, a deep intelligence network has ascertained with precision the actual capacity of the various armed groups and the nature of the relationships they have forged with  the many tribes involved.
 
In a word, the territory of Azawad has been transformed into a vast field for operational intelligence.
 
 
Directly affected by this crisis , Algeria has been forced to mobilise its defences and preventive  forces at all levels to explore all the possibilities that could help put the Mujao out of harm's way, or failing that to destroy it. It is, according to our sources, a vast operation that involves hundreds of men and tons of equipment suited to fighting in the area and preventing the area from becoming a permanent secure sanctuary for terrorists groups.
 
Despite its efforts and willingness  to defend its territory, Algeria is contributing with neighbouring countries to revitalise and strengthen the instruments of international and regional security, especially after the tragic events in Libya, which led to the assassination of the U.S. ambassador and three officials of the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. Undoubtedly, further underscore our sources, the magnitude of the attack forced the security forces of each country in the region to show more determination to fight against this scourge and  to  try to avoid divergences likely to weaken the cooperation between neighbouring states.
 
Convergence of all the States of the sub region involved in the fight against terrorism is more essential than ever.
 
Hence also the entry into action of the Committee of Staff for Joint Operations (CRIC) whose headquarters are in Tamanrasset, combining the Sahel countries, namely Algeria, Mali, Niger, Mauritania and the Fusion and liaison (UFL) representing the intelligence services of those countries.
 
Ikram Ghioua – L’Expression