By Pamela Dockins for Voice of America
Thurs August 7 2014

WASHINGTON—

The United States has announced plans to spend $110 million annually, for three to five years, to help African nations develop rapid reaction peacekeeping forces. President Barack Obama announced the new initiative at the close of a U.S. summit with 50 African leaders.

From Boko Haram in Nigeria to al-Shabab in Somalia, African countries have struggled to curb violence and deadly attacks launched by militant groups.

Speaking through a translator, African Union chairman and President of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz said the unrest is one of the continent’s greatest challenges.

“We are facing major challenges in terms of peace and security: armed conflicts, illicit traffic, organized crime, wildlife traffic, arms contraband, drugs contraband,” said Aziz Wednesday at the U.S.-Africa summit in Washington.
As Obama announced the rapid response peacekeeping partnership, he said it would help countries quickly deploy forces through United Nations or African Union Missions.

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