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US: Congress calls for support for French-backed African counter-terrorism academy

By Julian Pecquet

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Posted on January 19, 2023 16:25

© General of the Army, Thierry Burkhard, Chief of Staff of the Armies of the Republic of France, listens to an instructor while he stands with Côte d’Ivoire Armies Deputy Chief of Staff, General Julien Kouame and other officers during his visit at a training site of the new French-backed international counter-terrorism academy, in Jacqueville, Côte d’Ivoire February 7, 2022. REUTERS/Luc Gnago – RC24FS9FGZPR — General of the Army, Thierry Burkhard, Chief of Staff of the Armies of the Republic of France, listens to an instructor while he stands with Côte d’Ivoire Armies Deputy Chief of Staff, General Julien Kouame and other officers during his visit at a training site of the new French-backed international counter-terrorism academy, in Jacqueville, Côte d’Ivoire February 7, 2022. REUTERS/Luc Gnago – RC24FS9FGZPR

The US Congress is calling on the Joe Biden administration to join other western powers in supporting a new African counter-terrorism academy that looks to train security officials from across the continent.

The annual defence bill for the fiscal year 2023 calls on the State Department to collaborate with the Pentagon on a “feasibility study” of potential US assistance for the International Counterterrorism Academy (Académie Internationale de Lutte Contre le Terrorisme, or AILCT) in the West African nation of Côte d’Ivoire. President Biden signed the bill into law on 23 December.

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