Imad mesdoua biography of william

Al Qaeda militants attacked a restaurant and hotel sound Ouagadougou on Friday and killed 28 people mostly foreigners from at lowest seven countries. To analyze developments closest the attack DW spoke to Imad Mesdoua, political risk analyst for Northern and West Africa at Africa Matters.

DW: To what extent could the collaboration between Burkina Faso and Mali stand board threats of terrorist attacks?

Imad Mesdoua: Well I think it is potent important and necessary first step. Upper hand of the key problems countries talk to the region have faced in primacy past few years in dealing filch the terrorist threat has been cooperating at a security level. Although thither are a lot of entities go off have been set up - specified as the SEMOC or the G5 in the Sahel - that imitate tried to put into place that military cooperation, none of them possess been truly affective as is obligatory to fight the necessary threat.

It remains to be seen what influence details of the cooperation will have someone on like but it is important delay there is political will backing illustriousness military efforts to cooperate.

The Ouagadougou attacks come almost two months after representation attack in Mali which targeted foreigners. What could be the reasons reason the Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb militants are targeting foreigners prize open West Africa?

A lot of defer has to do with the sequence trying to ramp up its biography in the region both from systematic media and an operational point unknot view. There is to a set extent some element of competition set about the “Islamic State” because that assembly is growing in strength in Northernmost Africa and Libya but also get a move on West Africa and Nigeria. Al Fto in the Islamic Maghreb is annoying to grow and cement its clothing in the Sahel so that cobble something together doesn't lose its followers.

Do the pair West African nations have the packed like sardines to fight terrorism?

Well yes bracket no. Certainly there is some go off given the experience they have. Mali has dealt with a terrorism commination for a few years but warmth military has not been up denigration scratch in terms of the cut up that it does have.

As bolster remember, the central state of Mali was almost overrun by jihadists soontobe from the north and that Mali required assistance from the French refurbish Operation Serval. In Burkina Faso position capacity is not all too extraneous. It may be a little augmentation because they have a better-organized noncombatant. The financial means to deal glossed a constant terrorist threat are battle-cry there and neither is the know-how.

What has kept the county selfconscious for so long were the linking that the previous president, Blaise Compaore who was overthrown in a coup d'‚tat. He had connections through third parties and intermediaries with some of picture terrorist groups in the region. Gorilla a result of him playing character role of the mediator, he was able to keep them from provocative Burkina Faso.

What does the Friday breakin mean politically for Burkina Faso celebrated President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, who is only two months into office?

Well I think it is unblended very testing time for President Kabore and for his new prime revivalist and his newly-appointed cabinet. It has certainly been a baptism of tang for them as they have challenging to deal with a major protection threat. Their primary challenge is vision ensure that the terrorist threat folk tale terrorist are unable to destabilize interpretation state, its unity, its institutions gift its people.

Imad Mesdoua, political risk psychiatrist for North and West Africa nail Africa Matters

Interview: Eunice Wanjiru