Africa-Press – Namibia. The United States (US) military has raised concern over jihadist groups and drug cartels operating near Namibia’s borders, following high-level talks with minister of defence and veterans affairs Frans Kapofi.
US Africa Command (Africom) lieutenant general John Brennan met with Kapofi last week.
“There are jihadist groups that operate all along the periphery of both Angola and Namibia,” Brennan said during a digital press briefing following his meeting with Kapofi.
The two discussed maritime security, joint training, and countering transnational threats, he said.
The partnership aims to enhance regional stability and shared prosperity.
Brennan said the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) has franchises in Mozambique and South Africa.
He said there is an emerging Mexican drug cartel threat in the region, which he warned would get worse over time, emanating from South Africa and coastal West Africa.
“So, we want to keep Namibia and Angola free of those threats, as well as to prepare them for any future threats through the training and exercise programme,” he said.
Last year, South African law-enforcement agencies arrested several individuals, including two Mexican nationals, after uncovering a methamphetamine lab with chemicals used in manufacturing illegal drugs such as crystal meth, carrying an estimated value of US$109.5 million (N$2 billion).
Brennan said the US plans to expand its military and defence cooperation across southern Africa more broadly, including Namibia.
“We started the burgeoning relationship with the Southern African Development Community many years ago. Botswana is the hub of that, and we want to expand that to partners who also provide troops to things like the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, now the African Union Stabilisation Support Mission in Somalia (Aussom).”
Aussom is a peacekeeping operation which was started this year and authorised by the African Union.
Brennan raised the alarm over drug cartels manufacturing drugs on the African continent and then exporting it to the US, Europe, and Australia, while the consumption of these illicit drugs in Africa has also become a growing problem.
“… as well as stopping drug and human trafficking, which is a problem for Africa as a whole. We’ve seen partners in Mozambique. We just gave them a boat which they use to interdict drug shipments off their coast.
“Recently, I think it was about US$8 million worth of cocaine.”
Brennan said security in the region would lower the risk of American companies investing in the continent.
Deputy to the commander for civil-military engagement ambassador Robert Scott revealed that the military body has plans to turn it into a regional hub for the trans-shipment of goods.
Africom is one of the 11 unified combatant commands of the US defence department.
It was established to bring together US military activities on the African continent under a single command.
Along with its partners, the military body counters transnational threats, strengthens security forces and responds to crises in order to advance US national interests and promote regional security, stability and prosperity.
Kapofi could not be reached for further clarification as he was in meetings yesterday.
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