Mali's next battle : improving counterterrorism capabilities / Michael Shurkin, Stephanie Pezard, S. Rebecca Zimmerman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Shurkin, Michael, author.

Pézard, Stéphanie, author.

Zimmerman, S. Rebecca, author.

Contributor:

United States. Department of Defense. Office of the Secretary of Defense. Office of African Affairs, sponsor.

National Defense Research Institute (U.S.), issuing body.

International Security and Defense Policy Center, researcher.

Rand Corporation, publisher.

Rand Corporation. National Security Research Division, researcher.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Terrorism.

Terrorism--Mali.

Mali--Armed Forces--Operational readiness.

Mali.

Mali--Politics and government.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (143 pages) : illustrations, maps

Place of Publication:

Santa Monica, California : RAND Corporation, 2017.

Summary:

"This report examines Mali's counterterrorism requirements in light of recent evolutions in the country's security environment. In spite of the achievements of France, the United Nations, and the European Union, the terrorist threat in Mali is growing, but Mali's military remains largely ineffective. Part of the challenge is the interconnected nature of Mali's terrorist problem and the political strife that afflicts Mali's northern half, which the peace agreement signed in Algiers in June 2015 only somewhat addresses. Moreover, Bamako's response remains focused to an inappropriate degree on acquiring the military capabilities it hopes will help redress the balance of power in the North while leveraging proxy ethnic militias. These militias, though more effective on the battlefield than Mali's own forces, have the potential to further aggravate northern Mali's instability. The report argues that it is not possible to strengthen Mali's counterterrorism capabilities in isolation from its general military capabilities, which are in need of fundamental reforms. Such reforms should include making the armed forces more inclusive of minority groups and more attentive to relations with northern communities, improving the effectiveness and accountability of defense institutions, building human capital and leadership, and enhancing operational capabilities. In all cases, the United States must coordinate its efforts with the other actors on the ground in Mali, especially the French and the European Union, to ensure complementarity."--Publisher's web site.

Contents:

Introduction

Background to Mali's terrorist problem

Mali post-Serval

Mali's capabilities and limitations

Malian partners' strategies, capabilities, and limitations

Conclusion.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (ebrary, viewed May 12, 2017).

ISBN:

0-8330-9193-X