According to a 1980 report, Africa’s resources were listed as diamonds, 75% of world’s supplies, gold 70%, platinum 46%, copper 20% and uranium more than 20%. According to the report, while these resources were concentrated in southern countries, gas, oil, phosphates, iron and uranium were located in north Africa, the western Sahara and the Sahel.
The Sahel stretches from the Atlantic ocean to the Red Sea, from Senegal, Gambia, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia.
Reportedly, in 1912 the plan for the organisation of the Sahel identified an administrative and military arrangement. According to the report, the area encompassed the Sahara, Libya, southern Algeria, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. Reportedly, the area was extended following the discovery of two important oil fields in 1956 in eastern Algeria. The Algerian war for independence from France ended in 1962. According to a report, the french wanted to maintain their interests in the area, including control over Saharan oil reserves. Reportedly, Algeria ceded to france certain air bases, terrains, sites and military installations sites including facilities for underground nuclear testing in the Sahara.
Reports from the Sahel are of nationalist agendas contrary to western interests and the ambitions of al qaeda, jihad activity and problems with water supplies. According to a report, in 2002 the u.s. created a combined joint task force for the horn of Africa, the trans Sahel counter terrorism innitiative in 2005 and the Africa command in 2008, resulting in military training for Africans and counter terrorism partnerships in Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Morrocco, Algeria, Mauritania, Senegal, Tunisia, Libya, Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Niger and Chad.