The conflict in Libya has raised concerns that weapons acquired by Moammar Gadhafi's regime could fall — or have fallen — into the hands of militants in the region who might use those weapons against U.S. interests. These concerns have drawn attention to West Africa, particularly countries in the Sahel sub-region, where Tuareg rebels and al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) are active. While there are few direct U.S. interests in the Sahel that are likely targets and AQIM has rarely carried out attacks in the Sahel's capital cities where most Western interests are located, the United States is already engaged in a multi-year program to establish stronger relations with governments in the region. Washington is working to equip and train these countries' forces to disrupt militant elements within their borders and aims to maintain a U.S. presence, however light or transient, to unilaterally engage militants in West Africa.
