{"id":17565,"date":"2018-04-11T17:05:55","date_gmt":"2018-04-11T17:05:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/04\/11\/us-military-opens-annual-counterterrorism-training-in-niger\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:03:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:03:13","slug":"us-military-opens-annual-counterterrorism-training-in-niger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/11\/us-military-opens-annual-counterterrorism-training-in-niger\/","title":{"rendered":"US military opens annual counterterrorism training in Niger"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NIAMEY, Niger \u2014 Six months after the deaths of U.S. soldiers in Niger led to questions about the military\u2019s presence in the West African nation, the U.S. Special Operations Command in Africa<\/a> on Wednesday opened its annual counterterror exercise in the face of a growing extremist threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Flintlock exercise\u2019s 10 days of training for special operations forces is meant to strengthen West African nations\u2019 ability to combat multiple extremist groups, including ones that have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group and al-Qaida. About 1,900 service members from 20 African and western nations are participating in the Flintlock exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Approximately 1,900 service members from more than 20 African and western partner nations are participating in Flintlock 2018 at multiple locations in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Senegal. Flintlock is an annual, African-led, integrated military and law enforcement exercise that has strengthened key partner nation forces throughout North and West Africa as well as western Special Operations Forces since 2005. (USAFRICOM)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The vast Sahel region\u2019s large number of ungoverned spaces and widespread poverty pose challenges to counterterror efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot one week goes by without our population, our defense and security forces, in all of our countries being touched by some sort of terrorist or armed attack,\u201d Niger\u2019s Minister of Defense Kalla Moutari said at the opening ceremony. \u201cNo one country can face all these complex challenges alone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t