By Gemal Haider

ALGERIS (Sunatimes)- According to Algeriafs Al-Watan newspaper, David R. Hogg, commander of AFRICOM's land forces, acknowledged Algeria had a "leadership role" in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region, as his body launched an anti terrorism training for the Algerian army.

Units from the National People's Army (ANP) that specialize in particular in the fight against terrorism will benefit from a training programme that will be provided, in this year, by the experts from AFRICOM's (the US army's command for Africa) land forces command's experts.

The latter will be spread out across several months and will deal, among other things, with homemade explosives and long-range reconnaissance. The programme in question has also scheduled a visit by Algerian soldiers to the United States and to Vicenza, in Italy, where the headquarters of AFRICOM's land forces command is located. The announcement was made yesterday by Major-General David R. Hogg, the commander of AFRICOM's land forces, during a press conference held on the sidelines of his very first visit to Algiers.

No Foreign Interference

The American military official further indicated that in 2013 the ANP will take part in manoeuvres in the Mediterranean as well as exercises focused on managing natural disasters.

On the topic of his two-day "mission" in Algiers, Major-General David R. Hogg - who has just been recently appointed to head up AFRICOM's land forces command (it was only five months ago that he joined AFRICOM) - indicated that he had come to "strengthen the excellent cooperation between Algeria and the United States in the military and security area."

His visit, he added, was an opportunity for him to "reaffirm the support of the United States for the efforts made by Algeria in the fight against terrorism."

Ma-Gen Hogg met with Kamel Rezzag-Bara, the adviser to the president of the republic, on issues of terrorism; with the commander of land forces, Maj-Gen Ahcene Tafer; and also with the secretary-general of the [National] Defence Ministry [MND], Maj-Gen Ahmed Senhadji.

The American official, who was willing to engage in questions and answers with the press, not without having added beforehand, with a note of humour, that he would not answer "any question related to WikiLeaks," insisted nevertheless on categorically denying the news report according to which the CIA (the American intelligence agency) had established a base in Algeria several years ago.

Benchmark In Afghanistan

To the recurrent question of knowing whether American officials have decided to move to Africa the headquarters of AFRICOM's general headquarters, which is in Germany, the speaker also responded in the negative. But in all his answers, Maj-Gen David R. Hogg insisted in particular on the notion that AFRICOM's mission was not to intervene in a theatre of operations but rather to develop partnerships and training programmes with the countries of the continent.

The speaker further added that "there could not be any unilateral American intervention." In plain language, that means that the United States cannot intervene on the continent without a request coming from the countries.

On the subject of the issue about terrorism in the Sahel, AFRICOM's commander of land forces explained that this involved "a regional problem" while at the same time acknowledging Algeria had a "leadership role" in the fight against terrorism in the region.

The American position on the issue should certainly reassure the Algerian authorities, who remain opposed to any form of foreign interference in the region. "The situation in the Sahel is a regional matter and Algeria is playing a leadership role in the fight against the terrorism in that region. We are impressed by the progress that has been achieved in this area," he stated, before emphasizing that "of course, work still remains to be done."

Regarding the continent, Maj-Gen Hogg showed he was worried about the situations prevailing in Somalia, Sudan, Uganda and Cote d'Ivoire. Before assuming his position as AFRICOM's commander of land forces, Maj-Gen David R. Hogg, readers are reminded, was the deputy commander of the combined command for the transition of the security agencies in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom). In particular his visit to Algiers was preceded, in November 2009, by that of AFRICOM's commander-in-chief, General William E. Ward.

Sunatimes.com

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