Algérie Presse Service (APS) – January 25, 2012
The counterterrorism strategy put in place by the countries of the Sahel region (Algeria, Niger, Mali and Mauritania) is considered by the African Union (AU) as a “model” for the rest of the Continent, said a representative of the African Centre for Studies and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT).

The ACSRT representative indicated that the seven African countries of the Great Lakes region have adopted a strategy similar to that of the countries of the Sahel region. He added that ACSRT’s “Fusion and Liaison Unit” (FLU) has also “inspired this sub-region to create a similar mechanism.”

FLU is a mechanism involving the heads of the intelligence services of the countries of the Sahel region.

Pursuing, the ACSRT official mentioned the case of East Africa, where “terrorist threat posed by the Somali “Shabab” (Officially called “Harakat Esshabab El Mujahidin” or Movement of Fighting Youth) and increased piracy” in the region have “incited” the sub-region to decide to create a fusion and liaison center similar to FLU, which is viewed as “an example to emulate in Africa.”