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Mali coup leader was trained by U.S. military, officers say
Source: Washington Post
Mali coup leader was trained by U.S. military, officers say
By Danielle Paquette
8/21/2020, 8:34:00 a.m.
DAKAR, Senegal — The military officer who declared himself in charge of Mali after leading a coup that ousted the West African nation's president this week received training from the United States, according to military officers from both countries.
Col. Assimi Goita, who emerged Thursday as the head of the junta in power, worked for years with U.S. Special Operations forces focused on fighting extremism in West Africa. He spoke regularly with U.S. troops and attended U.S.-led training exercises, said the officers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
Goita, who also received training from Germany and France, headed Mali’s special forces unit in the country’s restive central region, where fighters linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have established a stronghold that has alarmed global leaders.
“By making this intervention, we have put Mali first,” Goita said in a broadcast Thursday alongside top government officials. “Mali is in a sociopolitical and security crisis. There is no more room for mistakes.”
The U.S. Africa Command and the Defense Department did not immediately respond to questions about the nature of Goita’s training and relationship with U.S. troops.
-snip-
By Danielle Paquette
8/21/2020, 8:34:00 a.m.
DAKAR, Senegal — The military officer who declared himself in charge of Mali after leading a coup that ousted the West African nation's president this week received training from the United States, according to military officers from both countries.
Col. Assimi Goita, who emerged Thursday as the head of the junta in power, worked for years with U.S. Special Operations forces focused on fighting extremism in West Africa. He spoke regularly with U.S. troops and attended U.S.-led training exercises, said the officers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
Goita, who also received training from Germany and France, headed Mali’s special forces unit in the country’s restive central region, where fighters linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have established a stronghold that has alarmed global leaders.
“By making this intervention, we have put Mali first,” Goita said in a broadcast Thursday alongside top government officials. “Mali is in a sociopolitical and security crisis. There is no more room for mistakes.”
The U.S. Africa Command and the Defense Department did not immediately respond to questions about the nature of Goita’s training and relationship with U.S. troops.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/mali-coup-leader-was-trained-by-us-special-operations-forces/2020/08/21/33153fbe-e31c-11ea-82d8-5e55d47e90ca_story.html
Seen on national broadcaster ORTM TV, Col. Assimi Goita, one of the soldiers identifying themselves as the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, sits with others as they announce they have assumed control of the country Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020 in Bamako, Mali. (ORTM TV via AP)