Estados Unidos realiza maniobras contra Al-Qaeda en la región del Sáhara/ US starts anti-al-Qaeda military exercise in Sahara

Estados Unidos está realizando un gran ejercicio militar conjunto con países de la zona del Sáhara, como parte del programa de lucha contra el terrorismo en la región.
El ejercicio, denominado Operation Flintlock tiene una duración de tres semanas y busca mejorar las capacidades de las fuerzas armadas de la región para dar estabilidad a la zona, ya que sirve como base a al-Qaeda para ataques terroristas.
Además en esta zona se está detectando tráfico de drogas, procedente de Sudamérica en su camino a Europa. En el ejercicio toman parte Mauritania, Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria y Chad además de otras naciones europeas como Reino Unido, Francia, Alemania y España. Toman parte unos 1.200 militares y se ha establecido la comandancia general temporal en Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Al-Qaeda es responsable de ataques a objetivos occidentales en la zona. EL grupo mantiene secuestrados a dos cooperantes españoles en Mauritania.
Además Argelia, Mali, Mauritania y Niger crearon un comando militar conjunto para coordinar sus esfuerzos militares en este sentido.
bbc.co.uk
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A major joint military exercise with countries around the Sahara desert region is beginning as part of a US programme of counter-terrorism.
The three-week Operation Flintlock aims to improve the ability of the region's armed forces to work together to bring security to the area.
It serves as a base for the group al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and has seen increased terror attacks.
Drug smuggling is also growing, moving cocaine from South America to Europe.
Flintlock 10 mainly involves Mauritania, Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria and Chad.
The operation is part of the United States' Trans-Sahara Counter-Terrorism Partnership, and European nations such as the UK, Germany, France and Spain are also involved.
About 1,200 people will take part in the exercise with about 300 of these based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, where a temporary command centre has been set up.
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has been responsible for attacks on Western targets in Mauritania and also hostage takings. The group is currently hold two Spanish hostages and is suspected of being behind the kidnapping of a Frenchman in Niger last month.
Just last month, Algeria, Mali, Mauritania and Niger launched a joint military command headquarters in the south of Algeria to co-ordinate their efforts.
bbc.co.uk