North Africa’s Security
Security | Defense | Terrorism
Update: Dozens of Russian Militiamen Killed by Tuareg Rebels in Mali
Our colleagues of Mondafrique have released the following update. With its unmatched connections in the Sahel and West Africa, Mondafrique is one of the best sources of information on the region. Mondafrique: Fierce fighting that raged until Saturday at the...
SECURITY & DEFENSE
Sahel: Russia’s entry into the Sahel raises concern in the region
Chad's foreign minister warned against outside interference on Thursday, referencing Russian paramilitaries operating in neighboring countries. Cherif Mahamat Zene said "external interference, wherever it comes from, poses a very serious problem for the stability and...
Algeria closes airspace to all Moroccan planes
By Abdellah Cheballa: Algeria said Wednesday it has closed its airspace to all Moroccan planes due to "provocations and hostile practices" by its neighbour, in the latest dispute between the countries at odds mainly over Western Sahara. The move comes after Algeria...
Libya: Rival forces agree to protect water network
The United Nations on Thursday welcomed the creation of a joint security force from rival sides in Libya to secure the country's water network amid sabotage threats. "It is a very significant step forward towards the unification of the military institution and the...
Libya: Water supply to west and south Libya cut because of political terrorism
Libyan authorities have shut water supplies to swathes of the country after gunmen demanding the release of a jailed Kadhafi-era official threatened to sabotage the water network. Supplies to western and southwestern Libya were interrupted overnight Saturday to...
Egypt army says 13 jihadists killed in Sinai
Egyptian forces have killed 13 Islamist militants during clashes in the restive Sinai Peninsula, the army said. In a statement late Thursday, it said nine of its soldiers had been "killed or wounded", without indicating when the fighting had taken place. "In the...
Sahel: Violence in the Sahel continues to escalate with no end in sight
Deadly competition between two insurgent groups spreads terror in Lake Chad Here is a factfile on Boko Haram and its rival ISWAP following the killing of 24 Chadian troops in the troubled Lake Chad area: The insurgency initiated by Boko Haram in 2009 has left more...
Egypt: Intense violence in North Sinai
Egypt's military said Sunday it has killed 89 suspected insurgents in operations in North Sinai, a region where an affiliate of the Islamic State group has been active for nearly a decade. "Amid ongoing efforts in pursuing and defeating terrorist elements...during the...
Sahel: Another attack in SW Niger at border with Burkina Faso
Fifteen soldiers have been killed and six more are missing after a "terrorist" attack in southwest Niger, near the border with Burkina Faso, the defence ministry announced Sunday. The soldiers were first ambushed and later hit by an improvised explosive device as they...
Niger: 18 civilian killed in terror attack in Banibangou
A fresh attack in western Niger near the border with Mali has left 18 civilians dead, a local elected official said Thursday. The attack Wednesday was in the village of Deye Koukou in the Banibangou area, where 14 civilians were killed Sunday -- also by men aboard...
Tunisia: Three political parties under investigation over alleged foreign funding
Tunisia's judiciary has opened an investigation into allegations political parties received foreign funding ahead of national elections held in 2019, the prosecutor's office told AFP on Wednesday. Three parties are under investigation, the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha...
INSURGENCIES & TERRORISM
Tunisia: Four killed in army-insurgent clash in Kasserine
Tunis, Sept 2, 2019 (AFP) - A national guard officer and three suspected jihadist militants were killed in a gunbattle in northwest Tunisia on Monday, his force said. "Terrorists are still around but Tunisia is stronger," Prime Minister Youssef Chahed said, paying...
Sahel: Boko Haram attacks village in Gueskerou, Nigeria, dozen killed
Niamey, Aug 24, 2019 - A night raid blamed on Boko Haram has left a dozen villagers dead in southeastern Niger on the frontier with Nigeria, a local official said Saturday. The attack on Friday night in the border district of Gueskerou, is the latest to hit the Diffa...
Sahel: 150 children killed in Mali violence in six months
Bamako, Aug 13, 2019 - UN child protection body UNICEF warned on Tuesday children in Mali faced rising violence with more than 150 killed in the first half of the year in jihadist and ethnic attacks. "More than 150 children were killed in the first half of 2019 and 75...
Sahel: Mali soldiers ambushed by insurgents in Mopti, five killed
Bamako, Aug 21, 2019 - Five troops were killed in central Mali on Wednesday when their convoy was ambushed by jihadists, the armed forces said. The army on its Twitter feed said that the attack occurred on a road between the villages of Boni and Hombori. "FAMA (the...
Libya: American arms dealer sentenced to prison for attempting to sell Russian weapons to Libyan militia
Los Angeles, Aug 20, 2019 - An international arms dealer was sentenced to 30 years in prison by a Los Angeles federal court Monday for conspiring to sell surface-to-air missiles to Libyan militants and other customers in the Middle East. The trafficking operation run...
Sahel: Insurgents kill at least 24 soldiers in northern Burkina Faso
Ouagadougou, Aug 20, 2019 - The death toll from an attack Monday on a military base in northern Burkina Faso rose to 24, the military said, in an unprecedented blow to the army in its campaign against jihadist insurgents. Seven people were wounded and five others...
Libya: Tripoli could get a moment of respite in this Eid al-Adha
Tripoli, Aug 10, 2019 - Libya's government has said it is willing to accept a truce in fighting around Tripoli for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha that starts Sunday but on four conditions. The United Nations had called on the UN-recognised Government of National...
Sahel: Red Cross suspends operations in Timbuktu, Mali, as violence escalates
Aug 6, 2019 - Twin attacks in Mali have killed four people, including two Malian soldiers, security sources said Tuesday, as the International Committee of the Red Cross suspended activities in Timbuktu due to "growing insecurity". A gendarme was killed in an ambush...
Egypt: Carnage in Cairo after blast killed 20 people
Cairo, Aug 5, 2019 - A huge blast which killed 20 people in Cairo was caused by a speeding car packed with explosives, Egyptian officials said Monday as witnesses described carnage. The car was driving against the traffic when it smashed into three other vehicles just...
Libya: Warlord Khalifa Hartar pursues attacks on Misrata as death toll in Tripoli reaches 1,100
Tripoli, Aug 6, 2019 - Forces loyal to Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar said they launched air strikes early Tuesday against an airbase in third city Misrata held by government loyalists. "Our air force carried out several raids against the Misrata airbase, targeting...