North Africa’s Security
Security | Defense | Terrorism
Facing Regional Instability, Algeria Introduces Mobilization Law in Line with Global Practices
Amid rising regional tensions, Algeria is updating its defense laws with a proposed general mobilization bill that would allow for the rapid transition from peacetime to wartime readiness. The law outlines scenarios triggering full national mobilization, mandates civilian compliance, and grants sweeping powers to authorities in times of imminent threat or aggression.
SECURITY & DEFENSE
Libya: More evidence of Moscow’s meddling in Libya affairs: Russians operatives freed in Libya
Three Russians and one Ukrainian have been released from captivity in Libya, the head of a controversial Moscow-based political organisation said Saturday, drawing attention to the Kremlin's role in conflict-torn Libya. The head of Defence of National Values, a...
Sahel: Massacre in west Niger, hundred killed in ‘terror’ attacks
"Terrorists" killed around 100 people in two villages in western Niger, the latest in a string of civilian massacres that have rocked the jihadist-plagued Tillaberi region, a local mayor said Sunday. The attacks on the villages of Tchoma Bangou and Zaroumadareye...
Mali: Two more French soldiers killed in IED explosion in Menaka
Two French soldiers died when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in northeastern Mali on Saturday, just days after three others were killed in similar fashion. Their deaths brought to 50 the number of French soldiers killed in the West African nation...
Mali military junta ratchets up repression against political figures
The Malian authorities on Thursday charged six figures, including a former prime minister, with seeking to mount a coup, a move that came after a military putsch in August, their lawyers said. The public prosecutor's office in the capital Bamako said in a statement...
Algeria: Another difficult year ahead, says MEA Risk
Algeria ends the year 2020 with 1,878 critical incidents, down 35.4% from 2,909 in 2019, according to MEA Risk LLC. Critical incidents are defined as events that have an impact on the stability of a region, subregion within a country or an entire country. The figure...
Sahel: Three French troops killed by EID in Hombori, Mali
Three French soldiers were killed Monday in Mali when their armoured vehicle struck an explosive device in the Hombori region in the centre of the poor Sahel state, the French presidency said. The deaths brought to 47 the number of French soldiers killed in Mali since...
Algeria alleges ransom money paid to Jihadists in Mali making its way into Algeria
Algeria's army has retrieved a "slice of the ransom" cash paid out to free hostages held by "terrorist groups" in the troubled Sahel region, the defence ministry has said. Soldiers "recovered the sum of 80,000 euros" ($97,900) during an operation in Algeria's...
Tunisia extends state of emergency, grants exceptional powers to security forces
The Tunisian presidency on Friday announced a six-month extension of the country's state of emergency, in place since a 2015 attack on a presidential guard bus claimed by the Islamic State group. President Kais Saied "decided on the six-month extension of the...
Libya: Despite series of talks to bring peace in Libya, warlord Haftar threatens more violence
Turkey tells Haftar to back off Turkey's defence minister said that any attack by eastern Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar on its personnel in the North African country would be met with force. "A war criminal, murderer Haftar and his supporters must know that they...
Egypt: More unrest in Egypt with explosion of gas pipeline supplying El Arish
A blast hit a gas pipeline in Egypt's restive North Sinai region Thursday, a security source told AFP. "An explosion occurred (Thursday) evening along the main gas pipeline supplying the city of El-Arish," the source said, referring to the provincial capital. The...
INSURGENCIES & TERRORISM
Tunisia: Army kills three Islamic State suspects in Kasserine
Tunis, March 20, 2019 - Tunisian security forces have shot dead three Islamic State-linked militants suspected of involvement in the grisly killings of shepherds in the restive Kasserine region, the interior ministry said Wednesday. "Three terrorists were killed...
Sahel: Jihadists attack army camp in Mali’s Mopti region, kill scores of soldiers
Bamako, March 17, 2019 - An attack by suspected jihadists Sunday on an army camp in central Mali killed 23 soldiers, military sources said Monday, raising an initial toll of 21. A local politician and military sources had given the initial toll after a dawn attack...
Sahel: Niger-Boko Haram conflict intensifies, scores killed in Diffa
Niamey, March 13, 2019 - Niger said Wednesday it had killed 33 Boko Haram "terrorists" and seized vehicles and weapons in an operation in the Lake Chad region in the country's southeast. "Offensive actions carried out on Tuesday inflicted heavy losses on the enemy,"...
Sahel: More soldiers killed by an IED in Mali’s Mopti region
Bamako, March 12, 2019 - Six Malian troops were killed on Tuesday when their vehicles drove over improvised land mines in the centre of the West African country, the army said. Two army escort vehicles hit improvised explosive devices (IEDs) "leaving two dead in...
Morocco: Suspected Moroccan Jihadis back home, likely to face tough justice
Rabat, March 10, 2019 - Morocco said Sunday it had repatriated eight of its nationals from Syria, who will be investigated for "suspected involvement in acts linked to terrorism". "The competent Moroccan authorities proceeded on March 10 to repatriate a group of eight...
Sahe: Terror attacks on the rise in Mali, says UN
March 5, 2019 (AFP) - Security is worsening in Mali with terror attacks on the rise, targeting UN peacekeepers, Malian troops, international forces and civilians, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned in a report on Tuesday. The threat from extremist groups has...
Sahel: Tension on Libya-Chad border mounts with killing of Chadian deserters
March 4, 2019 - Deserters from a Chadian rebel group based in Libya were ambushed at the border of the two countries leaving seven people dead, their group said Monday. The attack happened on Saturday at Sossal on the Chadian border where the deserters were supposed...
Mali: Fulani insurgent leader Amadou Koufa still alive after France announced his killing
March 1, 2019 - Malian and French authorities were verifying the authenticity of a video on Friday that appeared to show one of the West African country's top jihadist leaders alive -- three months after his death was announced. Officials in both countries had said...
Sahel: More soldiers killed in landmine blast in Mopti, Mali
March 1, 2019 - Nine soldiers in the five-nation G5 Sahel anti-jihadist force were killed in central Mali on Friday when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device, the Malian army said. The incident happened at Boulkessy, in the Mopti region, it said on its...
Sahel: Expect more Danish soldiers in the Sahel
Copenhagen, Feb 28, 2019 - Denmark announced Thursday that it plans to send materiel and some troops to Africa to help support the French operation combatting jihadist groups in the Sahel. The government's plans, which must be approved by parliament, include sending...