EU warns al- Qaeda offshoot extending footprint in Africa

Algiers, Sept 9 (ANI): The European Union's counterterrorism coordinator has warned that al- Qaeda's North African offshoot is extending its footprint around Africa, adding that local governments need more help fighting it.

Dealing with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, which stages regular deadly attacks in Algeria and has kidnapped more than a dozen foreigners around the vast Sahel region, was central to a two-day conference in Algeria's capital this week on security challenges, Fox News reports.

Although officials from Saharan countries pledged to continue working together in the fight against terrorism, Niger's foreign minister said that cooperation so far has been ineffective.

Reports suggest that EU counterterrorism coordinator Gilles de Kerchove offered European assistance, adding that Algeria was in good shape to fight AQIM because "it has a powerful army."

"However the other countries of the region, Mali, Niger, Mauritania, need help," he added. (ANI)