External forces fanning conflicts in Africa, says Senegalese president

By Godfrey Olukya

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) – Senegal's President Macky Sall said on Tuesday that Africa has become a battleground for external forces, urging African nations to band together and fight terrorism.

President Sall, who is on a two-day state visit to Uganda, called on African countries to work together to ensure security on the continent at a joint press conference with his counterpart Yoweri Museveni following their meeting at the State House in Entebbe, 32 kilometers (20 miles) from the capital Kampala.

"In some ways, it is evident that Africa today has become a fighting ground for many international communities," he said, adding that “We must look into ways to stop it, including using intelligence.”

In Africa, there are numerous terrorist organizations, and “we must collaborate and pool our resources to fight terrorism," he stressed.

He said Uganda assists many African countries in providing security. He urged African countries to collaborate on joint security and intelligence sharing to root out militancy on the continent.

President Museveni, for his part, underscored the need for collective efforts by African countries to ensure regional and continental security. He also urged African countries to work together in security and economic matters.