Tag Archives: senegal

President Sall warned that the threat of Islamism remains in the Sahel even though it has been “seriously contained” in Mali. He praised France and the “synergy” that has arisen between France and north African countries battling the Islamist threat. Senegal currently has 815 soldiers deployed with the AFISMA mission in Mali.

President Sall said Senegal is stepping up security along its border with Mali to prevent spillover of the Malian Islamist insurgency into his country. Senegal supports the French-led intervention in Mali and has contributed several hundred troops to the effort.

Military forces arrested Mohamed Ahmed Aidara, 34, a Mauritanian, in Pakour near the border with Guinea Bissau. He is charged with recruiting fighters for al Qaeda in Mali.

Security forces detained 10 suspected al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb fighters during an operation in Dagana, a town along the Mauritanian border. Ten imams and students suspected of plotting terror attacks were detained in Matam.

Senegalese intelligence said that “specific threats of attacks” in the country from al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb have emerged as Senegal plans to deploy troops to Mali. “It now regards Senegal as a hostile country.”