North Africa’s Security
Security | Defense | Terrorism
Mali: Diplomatic Rift Widens as France Expels Malian Envoys, Halts Counterterrorism Ties
Diplomatic ties between Mali and France have sharply deteriorated after Mali detained a French national on coup-plotting charges, leading France to expel two Malian diplomats and suspend joint counterterrorism efforts. In response, Mali expelled five French embassy staff, ending a lengthy era of security cooperation between the two countries.
SECURITY & DEFENSE
Algeria alleges and decries ransom payment to ‘terrorists’ by foreign government
Algeria's prime minister has sounded the alarm over reported ransoms paid to "terrorist groups" for the freeing of hostages, weeks after the liberation of a French aid worker in Mali. "Algeria notes, with great concern, continued transfers to terrorist groups of huge...
Sahel: UK deploys hundreds of troops to war-torn Mali
Britain is deploying 300 troops to the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali to help strengthen security and human rights there, its defence ministry said Thursday. The British troops will provide the UN mission with "a highly specialised reconnaissance capability,...
Morocco says it arrested three men in Tetouan allegedly linked to IS
Moroccan police said Friday they have arrested three men in the northern city of Tetouan suspected of "terrorist plots" and links to the Islamic State group. The three had recorded a "video in which they pledge allegiance to the supposed emir of (IS)... and specify...
Algeria: Four die in military-insurgent clashes in northeast Algeria
An Algerian soldier was killed Wednesday during a clash with armed Islamists in the country's northeast, the defence ministry said in a statement. Lelmaya Sifeddine was killed "during a new clash with a terrorist group" during an ongoing operation in the province of...
Sahel: Several killed in ethnic violence in Chad’s Kabbia region
At least 22 people have been killed in southern Chad in the latest instance of deadly ethnic violence between nomadic herders and sedentary farmers, the communications minister said Friday. A curfew was imposed in the Kabbia region where the fighting took place and...
Libya: Terror group tied to warlord Haftar blacklisted by US
The US Treasury announced sanctions Wednesday on a Libyan rebel militia loyal to eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar which is allegedly behind multiple murders, kidnapping and torture. The Treasury said Mohamed al-Kani and the Kaniyat militia "is responsible for the...
Global terrorism-related deaths down 15% in 2019, but West witnessing rise in far-right terrorism
The number of people killed in terror attacks worldwide fell for the fifth consecutive year in 2019, with conflict still the main driver of terror but an increase of "far-right terrorism" seen in the West, a leading think tank said Wednesday. Deaths from terrorism...
W.Sahara: Polisario says it pounded defensive wall, as Morocco reinforces position at border post
Polisario says it pounded Morocco defensive wall in Western Sahara On 19 November 2020, the pro-independence Polisario Front said it launched "massive attacks" against a Moroccan defensive wall that cuts through the disputed Western Sahara. The territory is at the...
North Africans lost three decades over the Western Sahara
Armed clashes between Morocco and the Polisario Front reflect the movement's frustration with a three-decade status quo that has frozen its dreams of independence in the Western Sahara, analysts say. The group, backed by Morocco's arch-rival Algeria, has long demanded...
Libya: Europe and Turkey at odds about Libya, threaten and intimidate each other
German navy searches Turkish ship headed for Libya Turkey on Monday said the German navy had conducted an "unauthorised" search on a Turkish-flagged vessel in a bid to enforce an arms embargo on Libya but only found humanitarian aid. The European Union's Operation...
INSURGENCIES & TERRORISM
Mali: Two peacekeepers killed by mine in Mopti
Bamako, Jan 25, 2019 - Two UN peacekeepers from Sri Lanka died and six wounded in central Mali Friday when their vehicle hit a mine, the UN mission in Mali (MINUSMA) announced. "This morning... a vehicle in a MINUSMA logistics convoy hit a mine near Douentza, Mopti...
Algeria: More discoveries of war-grade weapons in southern provinces, two insurgents killed
The North Africa Journal: Threat and security assessment and tracking company MEA Risk LLC said the Algerian authorities continue to tally the weapons they have confiscated from the general public. Although illegal, many of what is confiscated are hunting rifles and...
Libya: AP photographer Mohamed Ben Khalifa killed in Tripoli clash
Tripoli, Jan 19, 2019 (AFP) - A Libyan photographer who worked for Associated Press news agency was killed Saturday south of Libya's capital Tripoli where he was covering militia clashes, a medical source and family said. Mohamed Ben Khalifa was killed by shellfire...
Mali: Al-Qaeda claims responsibility for the Aguelhok attack
[email_link] Bamako, Jan 20, 2019 (AFP) - Jihadist gunmen killed 10 Chadian peacekeepers and injured at least 25 others in an attack on a UN camp in northern Mali on Sunday, one of the deadliest strikes against the UN mission in the West African country. Al-Qaeda in...
Mali: Attack on base in Aguelhok claims ten peacekeepers, injures 25
Editor note: Death toll updated to ten peacekeepers and 25 injured Sunday, per the UN as reported by AFP. Bamako, Jan 20, 2019 (AFP) - Gunmen killed at least eight Chadian UN peacekeepers in an attack Sunday on one of their bases in northern Mali, multiple sources...
Sahel: Canadian geologist kidnapped in Burkina Faso found dead
Ouagadougou, Jan 17, 2019 (AFP) - A Canadian geologist kidnapped at a remote gold mine in northeast Burkina Faso by suspected jihadists has been found dead, the ministry of security told AFP on Thursday. A body found with gunshot wounds late Wednesday is that of Kirk...
Sahel: Attack near Mali-Niger border leaves scores dead
Bamako, Jan 16, 2019 - At least 10 people were killed by "terrorists" in northeastern Mali, including members of an armed group and civilians, a government official said on Wednesday. The attack took place around 45 kilometres (27 miles) from Menaka in an area which...
Libya: Southwest Libya braces for more violence as Haftar prepares to bomb insurgent positions
Jan 16, 2019 - The forces of Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar on Wednesday announced a military operation to "purge" jihadists and criminal gangs from the south of the conflict-hit nation. A spokesman for the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA) said its...
Libya: Chaos and more deaths in Tripoli
The North Africa Journal with AFP – January 16, 2919: Just as the UN warned against escalating violence in the Libyan capital, there is news of clashes that have already claimed at least five lives. Over the past days, the UN's Libya mission warned against clashes in...
Tunisia court sentences Jihadists to death over killing of soldiers in 2015
Tunis, Jan 12, 2019 (AFP) - A Tunisian court has sentenced 41 jihadists to death over an attack that killed 15 soldiers on the border with Algeria in 2014, prosecutors said Saturday. The sentences for the men, only two of whom are currently in custody, were delivered...