Mali hosts conference on terrorismBy KOUF KAF in Bamako | Friday, October 15  2010 at  09:52

Mali hosted a two-day international conference of countries of the Sahel-Saharan Africa on terrorism.

The conference focused on an assessment of the situation in the region, particularly in terms of terrorist acts and its connections with transnational organised crime and trafficking of all kinds.
The conference, which ended on Thursday at École de Maintien de la Paix Alioune Blondin Beye in the capital Bamako also mapped out strategies on peace, security and stability in the region.

The Sahel zone has been experiencing increasing activities of Maghreb unit of Al-Qaeda, an Islamic group that has kidnapped several foreigners in recent months.

Other participants in the meeting were the G8 countries, UN, African Union and Economic Community of West Africa's States (ECOWAS). These groups coordinate and reinforce the states capacities in the fight against terrorism.

However, the absence of Algeria underscored the lack of unity in the region as terrorism can only be defeated through better coordination between Algeria, Mali, Niger and Mauritania.

The Malian minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Moctar Ouane appreciated the efforts of foreign countries and institutions which have helped the country to tackle terrorism.