In Gabon will host the British contingent, which will protect the local elephants from smugglers and terrorists. About it reports The Independent.
The mission sent at the request of the Gabonese authorities, will consist of 16 fighters from various elite units. It is planned that in the main they will train the local officers of the forest service, which has had to confront smugglers armed with Kalashnikovs and RPGs. The Gabonese military will be taught to handle weapons, conduct investigative and search activities, and use WhatsApp.
According to the authorities of Gabon, the smugglers are closely associated with Islamist movements, including the “West African province of the Islamic state” (better known as “Boko Haram”). They destroy tens of thousands of elephants, the proceeds after the sale of the ivory, the money goes to funding terrorists. In the 10 years between 2004 and 2014, only one of the national parks of Gabon, Minkebe, was destroyed 25 thousand elephants — 80 percent of the local population.
Boko Haram (means “Western education is a sin”) was established in 2002 and operates mainly in the territory of Nigeria. Supporters group in favor of the introduction in the country of Sharia law and the fight against Western influence. In April 2015 it changed its name to “West African province “Islamic state””. This was done after the organization’s leader, Abubakar Shekau has sworn allegiance to the “Islamic state” (banned in Russia).