Burkina Faso sees sharp drop in terrorist activity following US Intervention - ADA News - September 11th, 2020

[MSgt Falconer]

Burkina Faso sees sharp drop in terrorist activity following US Intervention

ADA News - Sept. 11th, 2020

 

The small african country of Burkina Faso made headlines a few weeks back when rumors started surfacing about a US military intervention against the terrorist organisation Boko Haram. Rumors and unverifiable videos flooded social media claiming to show “western men with advanced military equipment” conducting military operations. Reports of explosions and airstrikes were also reported, especially in the country's lawless Kujari Province.

A spokesperson of the Burkinese government stated to ADANews that the country has seen “a sharp drop in terrorist activity” and that the Burkinese Army is working closely with its US allies to restore order to the fractured country. When pressured about the rumors of chemical weapons present in the country he was reluctant to answer and just referred to earlier official government statements.

 

With the US withdrawing part of its forces in Burkina Faso following several successful operations against Boko Haram the door has now opened  for private contractors. Much like the infamous Blackwater, these contractors occupy a gray area between soldier and mercenary and have been the subjects of heavy controversy in the past. Bringing these contractors into Burkina Faso following the partial US withdrawal seems to have had a noticable impact however as terrorist activity in the country has continued to drop at a steady rate.
The extent of the contracts awarded is not yet known but at least three "PMCs" have been confirmed to have contractors in Burkina Faso:

 

• The Eastern European Fire Wolves Contracting
• The Russian Wagner Group
• The US Based Cold Harbor

 

Of the three Cold Harbor is by far the largest, holding contract across Africa and the MIddle East worth several Billion US Dollars, including but not limited to: targeted assassinations of known terrorists, ISR and Aerostat intelligence gathering, profiling, training the Burkinese army, aerial surveillance and direct airstrikes using suicide drones and light strike aircraft.

 

Contractors from the Private Military Company "Cold Harbor" detaining suspected terrorists after a raid alongside the Burkinese military

 

Simon Tam
ADANews