The continent. But burkina fassos minister of state addressed the 78th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations last of year and said western troops operating in west africa are out to plunder the regions resources. We have some 10 th00 soldiers, armed soldiers that are foreign soldiers. Most of them are french soldiers, but there are also american soldiers, germans, italian, etc. They have weapons, they have flying equipment, they have surveillance equipment, which is the most sophisticated in the world, and yet they dont see the hundreds of terrorists that are moving around in order to of serve death and desolation, often with unimaginable weapons at their side. In mali, in niger, in burkina faso, there is no factory to manufacture weapons nor man munitions, so who is recruiting these terrorists, who is training them, who is providing. Them with weapons, who feeds them and with what means . Do you believe in this philanthropy on behalf of whom the westerners have sent their armies to the sahel to die for our beautiful blue eyes . Well, if you believe that, then what justifies the diplomatic irritation and other gesticulation of france when we told them to of skidattle with their armies . The real reason is really about the resources that are underground in the sahel indeed. Well for more on how the us has contributed to the increase of terrorism in africa, we have contacted abdul latif ahmad, a researcher under digital news editor. Thanks lot for your time sir, today. Thank you for having me. We also have Professor Abdul wahab sheikh abdul samamed, the chief executive officer of the afro Asia Institute for strategic studies based in nairobi, kenya. Thanks lot for your time, professor today. Thank you for having me. Now deaths from terrorism in africa, as we have seen have skyrocted more than 100,00 during the socalled us war on terror, according to the new study by the Africa Center for strategic studies. Now these findings contradict claims by the us military command in africa known as africum that it is thorting terrorist attacks across the continent. Lets start off with mr. Ahmed, whats your take uh on these reports . We can see already that uh Counter Insurgency strategies by especially the west uh has not improved the life of people again most of the times uh there are talks about sharing intelligence uh supplying uh african countries arms to fight insurgency but again if this uh there is a spike in insurgency clearly shows that the strategies that have been employed are not working and therefore there is need to the system, there is need to have alternative arrangements for you know to mitigate insurgency on the continent, so again it is clear that in spite of the claims to funding, the claims to supply of arms, claims to sharing of intelligence, there is a cross failure of security architecture, on the content, the us has 21 publicly military facilities in 15 countries in africa and the military footprint in most african countries. Now lets bring in Professor Abdul hab sheikh. Now, in your opinion, what exactly are us forces doing in africa . Because we know that the continent under the pretext of fighting terrorism, but we have seen uh rapid increase in terrorist attacks across the continent over the last two decades. Us involvement in africa. Is more terrorism and showing that the current approach is not effective at all in america or usa has some more than 21 places in africa when whenever they have base, the the insecurity, the terrorism, the conflict, all you know, it became ungovernable, for if i give you an example, for instance, in somalia, there is al Shabab Terrorist Organization in somalia who keeping them, you know, mostly the western imperialist, because they dont want to allow them to rule or govern the entire country, at the same time they want also the government of the day, you know to at least the govern the entire country because they dont want it, they want to keep you know terrorism in africa so that at least you know they can contain within somali territories, thats why for the last 33 years somali has no effective government, somalia has no central government, mainly the western world, the imperialist west, they dont want to see you know stable, strong and united somalia. Areas affected by terrorism in africa are strategically located and rich in natural resources. From gold and uranium rich regions the sahel to somalia, a country in a strategic location, to gas rich mozambique, a country that experts say has a potential to become the qatar of africa. We also have the drc, the Worlds Largest producer of cobalt and Third Largest producer of copper. Both minerals are critical for clean energy technologies. Recently there have been antius demonstrations in the democratic republic of congo where protest has accused the us and france of backing rebels and terrorists in the mineral reach eastern part the country. We are claiming our rights. France and the United States are fostering the war in the eastern drc by supporting the rebellion. A country like rwanda cannot fight against the democratic republic of the congo. We are marching. We are not breaking or destroying peoples property, but the head of the police is sending his officers to chase us away. There is no doubt that western powers are out to plunder these resources and therefore cannot be part of the solution. The United States military command in africa, africom is now seen by many as an imperialist war machine that creates threats before managing the perception of safety. The ultimate objective of africa is advancing the United States. Economic and geostrategic interest in africa. Now my next question is to Professor Abdul hab sheikh do you think western imperialist powers are behind the absage of terrorism in africa . And can they really assist in restoring security across the continent . You know the western emberialist a part and partial of african problems, as you speak right now, they want to exploit african resources, they want to undermine the safety and security of african continent so that at least they can exploit and loot the african you resources, very good example in west africa whereby you know several countries in west africa thats mali, burkina faso, guini and niger are struggling to contain the terrorism in their respective countries, mainly who are supporting them, those you know terrorist groups. In in west africa western imperialist, why why why they doing that in order to loot and exploit african resources, very good example in niger whereby the French Companies are mining so that you know one kilogram of uranium in niger they are buying from locales less than dollar and theyre going to sell you into the into the world market more than 200 dollars right now, as we speak right now, 186 companies are mining in india, you know democratic republic of congo, and they creating 110 militias which answerable to the you know western, you know western companies, so that they continue the looting, they will continue exploitation, they will continue undermining the safety and security africa. African african societies or african countries so that they can easily you know loot the resources of africa, but no question about that, i have no doubt in my mind, african, you know, the western imperialist are part and pastor of the african problems today. The un secretary general says efforts to Counter Terrorism must be anched in human rights and strategies that focus on the marginalized and Vulnerable People. Communities and the state. Need to be joined with the common purpose of rejecting terrorist ideologies and challenging those we spouse them, and this means governments adopting a comprehensive and inclusive approach. Involving all parts of society, it means starting at the grassroots where families and local communities are at the frontline of efforts to protect Vulnerable People from succumbing to pernicious ideologies. It means increasing our support to Civil Society organizations who make a unique and invaluable contribution to tackling terrorism and preventing violent extremism. And im pleased that many of them will join us tomorrow. And it means women and young people so that they can play meaningful roles in the developing, monitoring and implementing Counter Terrorism policies and programs. Now mr. Ahmed, can you tell us more on how marginalized person susceptible to being recruited into terrorist groups, can be rescued from these evil terrorist organizations . So basically, apart from poverty and ignorance, there is need intentionally breach the gap between the hal and most of the terrorists are able to exploit the people, you exploit the gaps in the system, the social gaps in the system, so yes there is need to retour the system, there is need to have functional education, the type of education that makes people have agency to understand that certain decisions are taken on their own without having to rely on you know the good think and you know the exploitation. Their religion or their culture or their current economic situation, that is what the terrorists most of the time, so for me education is a veritable tool to restructure the mindset, to reset the mindset of people in the affected regions, when you have the right kind of education, the right type of exposure and intellection, you will not be real roaded into the antics of terrorist and insurgence as a c may be, thanks, mr. Ahmed for that. Lets now take a short break before we continue our discussion on how the socalled us war on terror has actually led to a 10000 increase of terrorism in africa over the last two decades. Us increased terrorism in africa. The subject of this weeks episode of iran tech is behind this 60 centimeter thick concrete wall inside the neutron Imaging Laboratory at the Atomic Energy organization of iran very close to the core of the reactor is kind of Imaging System known as neutron radiography that has some very specific use Case Scenarios where xray imaging just doesnt cut it. Turn into this weeks episode to see how neutron radiography works. Welcome back and youre watching africa today, this week we are focusing on an unprecedented upsarge of terrorism in africa amid the presence of us troops. Across the continent. Basoma bazi, minister of state of burkina faso, an address to the un General Assembly last year stressed that his country, mali and niger are dealing with a war imposed on them by imperialism under the pretext of terrorism. Mali niger and burkina faso are dealing with a war that was imposed upon them by imperialism under the pretext of terrorists, and they these are sewing terror and destruction. Fight the un charter with principles of equality, justice on one hand and on the other hand, international law, which has been often cited here at the un, there is a massive casm between in the treatment of these different issues. Professor abdul wahab, whats your take on this statement by the minister from burkinafaso, a country currently at the forefront of battling imperialism, but that statement i completely, i agree with him. You know the western imperialist undermining the security of african nations, they are the one fact assisting and supporting terrorism in in in in burkina faso, when the when the military size the power, then they can easily contain all those all those you know militias who get a support from the western imperialist so that they can easily loot the african, the african resources, so the question is, the question is why when the military came to. Burkina faso, niger, guiny and mali are more safe today than two years, three years ago, because two or three years ago all those guys were you. Terror organizations, beat the alqaida or b haram are getting a support for the western breast so that they can create attention conflict you know among the african societies africans they must come together and defend themselves against western imbalalist western uh the African Society they come together and fight against the terror groups who are getting support from the western world thats the only thing the African Society they can survive otherwise the new new is real and they continue to loot africa, because today french for instance, if french stop looting africa, automatically french will become a third country, as as we speak right now, they will they will become a third world country, so in order to french become a strong nation, in order to be a superpower, they have to lead africa, all western cities or all western countries, they built the blood of African Society. Now, apart from poverty, ignorance has been cited as major reason that terrorist groups find recruiting grounds in africa. Now Professor Abdul wahab sheikh, do you think the root cause of violent extremism and terrorism in africa can be addressed through proper education and training . No question about that, both education and training can you know can improve the livelihood of the African Society, can improve. The security and safety of african continent, mainly other factors apart from the terrorism and violent terrorism, other factors which contribute the instability of africa, including among others, thats a thats a political corruption, economic inequality, social fractures and local grivences on the also contribute to the terrorism in africa, so all those factors together, they in fact contribute the. Safety and security of the African Society apart from you contribute also sorry all those fts above a part and parcel of the insecurity in africa and the sooner they address the issue of the political corruption the issue of the economic equality the issue the social fractures and also and addressing the local grifenses can easily improve this the security of the african continent for. Decades, africa has been teaming with Foreign Military personnel with more than dozen countries known to have deployments and bases on the continent. The us and its allies such as france, the uk, germany, italy and belgium have military presence on the continent. Despite this presence, insecurity is rampant across the continent. A protest in mali, speaking before french troops were ejected from the country say that ever since they trusted france. A us allie to assist in combating terrorism, the situation in the country wasnt, ill be so happy like a party if france quit mali today, really . Ever since we trusted them with our security, everything has become worse, clearly these us lead imperialist forces are the source of instability in africa. Mr. Ahmed, whats your opinion on this . So this is what i think of it, i always say that african problems require african solutions, why are the Foreign Forces on african s . Africans will make you know gestures to them seeking for help and assistance, but you see internally what africans should do is to close rounds, you know, is to look for alternative approach to defeating these monsters, because you cannot have invest, you cannot have uh, you know, hospitality, you cannot have. Your business is an Enterprise Running smoothly if you have a masm of insecurity you know cutting across the region, so beyond blaming and finger pointing at the us, we must internalize our solution, we must be able to say that within ourselves we have identified the problems and then we have Home Grown Solutions to fix the problem, yes it is easy to say the American Forces should go uh the american assistance do not need it, western you interference go, however we must find Home Grown Solutions, within ourselves, close rs and ensure that we defeat you know uh rising insecurity on the content. There is no doubt that us forces are up to no good in africa and are in fact there to take care of washingtons illegitimate economic and geopolitical interests. Now many people in africa are demanding that us troops and other imperialist forces withdraw as we have seen and let african countries take care of their own security with the assistance of non imperialist powers. Professor abdul hab, you have the last one. Whats your take on this . The us presence in africa. Is not you know a good side, its not welcome at all in in in in the continent, the sooner they depart from the continent the better, for the last quarter century, the us intervention in africa is not, its not good, very good example in libya, when they interven in libya 2011, libya was stable state, libya has a functioning institutions. Libya has a you know better life than today, but as we speak right now, where is libya . Libya is gone again, the intervention of the sahil states specifically the french intervention and together with American Intervention in in mali, in burkina faso, in niger, together with you know and and guin, its not good, thats why the African Society they start. Organizing themselves, they start you know against the western interventions in africa, they start, they not they realizing the the the the the the military presence in in usa in africa is not adding up, its not you know you know assisting the security and safety of the african african nations, but its a part a parcel of african african problems, so the sooner they left africa. The better, the sooner they depart africa the better, the sooner in fact you know stop that kind of approach which undermining the safety and security of the continent is better, they must come up new approach so that they can easily you gain the hearts and minds African Society, otherwise the multipol system is now is real and i dont think so now right now you know us intervation in africa is highly welcome, well. There you have it, there is no doubt that us military presence in africa is major factor in the upsage of terrorism across the continent and the sooner the us forces leave africa the better. I like to thank our guest today, professor sheikh samamed, the chief executive officer of afroAsia Institute for strategic studies based in nairobi, and abdul latif ahmad, a digital news editor. And that brings us to the end of this weeks edition of v africa today, its always great having you watch the show, you can watch this episode on all our previous shows at our website pressv. Ir drop us a line also through our social media handle and let us know what you think from me mubar kenya, its goodbye for now. America, as we began the selection year, i think that the United States are dont specially concerned with the way the World Economy works. The zionist regimes attack against libanon and syria demonstrate a policy of expanding. Military retention, precisely so, it seems the Israeli Occupation will conclude the grand operation in the city of khan unis in Southern Gaza within days, withdrawing thereafter to the newly islam security zone along the border with gaza, just as it did weeks ago in the city of gaza and its surroundings to the north. Does this mean that the next step is to begin the ground operation in rafah . It appears that the decision regarding the operation is still pending, not only for field related reasons, but lot of regional players prefer the negotiating path to end designist aggression against gaza, hence all eyes are now a possible improved Prisoner Exchange deal both in form and content compared to the first paris formula. Reached between qatar, egypt, the United States and the zionist israeli entity last january. Gaza talks underway this week on the medias stream. First of the headlines this hour, israely forces, kill scores, more palestinians in gaza, including people waiting for aid as regimes genocide enters its 444th day. Maas says israel is stalling in ceasefire talks and is using the. Iniciations as a cover to continue its war of starvation against the people of gaza, also in the headlines, the un chief warns that israels invasion of raffa would put the final nail in the coffin of eight programs for the gaza strip