Mission
Operation Enduring Freedom Trans Sahara is primarily a training mission meant to equip 10 nations to combat insurgents in the region. Africa Command states: {{quote, OEF-TS is the USG's 3rd priority counter terror effort conducting activities that support TSCTP but are not exclusive to TSCTP. OEF-TS supports TSCTP by forming relationships of peace, security, and cooperation among all Trans Sahara Nations. OEF-TS fosters collaboration and communication among participating countries. Furthermore, OEF-TS strengthens counterterrorism and border security, promotes democratic governance, reinforces bilateral military ties, and enhances development and institution building. U.S. Africa Command, through OEF-TS, provides training, equipment, assistance and advice to partner nation armed forces. This increases their capacity and capability to deny safe haven to terrorists and ultimately defeat extremist and terrorist activities in the region.{{cite web , url = http://www.africom.mil/oef-ts.asp , title = Operation Enduring Freedom Trans Sahara , publisher = AFRICOM , access-date = 15 March 2012 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120313194707/http://www.africom.mil/oef-ts.asp , archive-date = 13 March 2012 , url-status = dead , df = dmy-all At some point in 2013, OEF-TS was redesignated as Operation Juniper Shield. Operation Juniper Shield encompasses American operations across Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tunisia.Training programs
Flintlock
The Atlas Accord
Although the Flintlock Exercise was postponed, another training program in Mali was not. The Atlas Accord was created in 2012 to train African military personnel in a number of skills while focusing on logistics.{{cite web , url = http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23446:us-mali-armies-kick-off-exercise-atlas-accord-postpone-exercise-flintlock&catid=50:Land&Itemid=105 , title = US, Mali Armies Kick off Exercise Atlas Accord; Postpone Exercise Flintlock , publisher = Defense Web , date = 13 February 2012 , access-date = 24 February 2012 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130518193416/http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23446:us-mali-armies-kick-off-exercise-atlas-accord-postpone-exercise-flintlock&catid=50:Land&Itemid=105 , archive-date = 18 May 2013 , url-status = live , df = dmy-all The exercise includes classroom instruction and field instruction. Atlas Accord 12 focused solely on logistics and aerial resupply, while the next exercise in 2013 will continue training in aerial logistics but will also include command, control, communications, and computer (C4) techniques.African Lion exercise
The largest training exercise, African Lion, is an annual security cooperation exercise held by the US and Morocco.{{cite web , title = African Lion 12 ready to roar: marine forces in Africa conducts final planning conference , url=http://www.dvidshub.net/news/83446/african-lion-12-ready-roar-marine-forces-africa-conducts-final-planning-conference , publisher = DVIDs hub , access-date=25 February 2012 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305053546/http://www.dvidshub.net/news/83446/african-lion-12-ready-roar-marine-forces-africa-conducts-final-planning-conference , archive-date = 5 March 2014 , url-status = live , df = dmy-all Created in 2008, this program is designed to instruct a variety of skills, including aerial logistics,History
On 12 September 2007, a USAFSee also
*References
{{reflistSources
* {{cite book, last=Comolli , first=Virginia , title=Boko Haram: Nigeria's Islamist Insurgency , date=2015 , publisher=External links