African armies under-equipped in the face of the jihadists-President Sall

Senegal’s President Macy Sall has called for African armies to be better equipped and trained to deal with the threat posed by militant Islamists.

Sall made the call at the opening ceremony of 3rd Dakar International Forum on peace and security in Africa.

“The truth is that in most of our countries, our forces are not on point, Today, we have to make internal efforts to raise their levels,” he said, calling for better equipment and training.

“As far Boko Haram is concerned, the lake Chad Basin, I think they are done for. The main problem in Nigeria now is other terrorist groups in the southern parts of the country, “ said President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria.

According to the Senegalese president, African armies urgently have need for training, and equipment to face the jihadists.

“As much as the signatories of this Agreement is concerned, there was not slightest confrontation between the Malian forces and the movement . But there is, unfortunately, groups that have chosen not to go on with the peace,” said Modibo Keita, prime minister of Mali.

Sall added that the conflict in Mali turned into “the bloodiest theatre in the history of [UN] peacekeeping missions.”

“The truth is that in most of our countries, the armies are not up to the mark. Today, we have to make internal efforts to raise their levels,” he said.

President Muhammadu Buhari participates at the 3rd Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa today in Senegal. pic.twitter.com/AW4OtMe5b4

— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) December 6, 2016

The Islamic State group has spread from its bases in Syria and Iraq to gain a significant foothold in Libya, and it has also carried out attacks in Algeria and Egypt.

West Africa has also been rocked by violence from the Boko Haram jihadist group, which started a brutal insurgency in Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north seven years ago. The violence has since spread to Cameroon, Chad and Niger.