UAE- Defeating terror at every level: paper
Date
11/22/2015 3:34:15 AM
(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))
ABU DHABI 22nd November 2015 (WAM) -- A UAE paper has said that armed extremist groups exploit local grievances in failed states to establish bases of operation from which they carry out violent attacks. This problem is especially felt in North Africa where extremist groups have found fertile ground since the Arab Spring.
"The attack on a hotel in Mali's capital city Bamako on Friday shows that military power alone will not defeat extremist groups around the world" said The National in an editorial on Sunday.
"Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has been training with local radicals from the group Ansar Dine since the fallout from Libya's civil war created a vacuum of authority across North Africa.
"Bolstered by an influx of arms from Libya the extremists laid the foundation for the 2012 military coup against Mali's civilian government in which disgruntled soldiers overthrew Mali's weak central government. The coup along with the collusion between the extremists and separatists forced a French military intervention in 2013 aimed at restoring Mali's legitimate government and returning the country to stability.
"Despite the intervention Mali has been anything but secure. An international peacekeeping force has been unable to maintain control. As such the attack in Bamako on Friday was shocking but hardly surprising. Extremists have been thriving because of the poor security situation since 2013 and the United Nations forces on the ground haven't been able to contain the violence.
"One solution to this multifaceted challenge is renewed international support for a civilian government willing to return the country to stability. Strong and stable governance is a way to deprive fighters of the support they thrive on.
"This problem is not confined to North Africa. In Yemen a Saudi-led coalition with the support of the UAE is fighting to restore the internationally-recognised government and return the country to stability. Groups like Al Qaeda and Daesh have established reservoirs of support and have been able to operate freely.
"Returning the legitimate government to power and re-establishing stability is the best defence and offence against extremism in Yemen and beyond" concluded the Abu Dhabi-based daily.
WAM/Esraa