North Africa’s Security
Security | Defense | Terrorism
Sahel: Inside Chad’s Risky Alliance in Sudan’s Conflict
Chadian President Mahamat Déby’s support for Sudan’s Hemedti amid the Sudanese conflict has sparked tension at home, risking political instability and opposition within Chad’s military and ruling elite.
SECURITY & DEFENSE
Sahel: Chad army unable to contain Boko Haram in Lake Chad
Chad's President Idriss Deby said Saturday that Boko Haram jihadists would continue to wreak havoc in the Lake Chad region despite a huge military offensive against the group earlier this year. Lake Chad -- a marshy region dotted with islands near the border of Niger,...
As tensions escalate in the east Med Sea, Egypt and Greece announce joint economic zone
Cairo, Aug 6, 2020 - Egypt and Greece signed an agreement Thursday to set up an exclusive economic zone in the eastern Mediterranean amid regional tensions over energy resources in the area. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry announced the deal, which delineates...
Libya: More evidence of Russian meddling in Libya
Washington, July 24, 2020 - Russia continues to supply a broad range of arms to Libyan rebels including fighter jets, air defense missiles, land mines, and armored vehicles through the state-backed mercenary Wagner Group, the US Defense Department said Friday. The...
Turkey accuses third parties of conspiring in Libya
Turkey accused third parties of carrying out "doomed initiatives" to make ground in Libya's conflict on Wednesday, as it tried to bolster support for the Tripoli-based government. Turkey supports UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), which is fighting for...
Tensions mount between Athens and Ankara, Greek navy deploys ships in the Aegean
French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday denounced what he called Turkey's "violation" of the sovereignty of Greece and Cyprus, as tensions mount between Athens and Ankara. "I want once again to reiterate France's full solidarity with Cyprus and also with Greece...
Egypt: Two soldiers and 18 alleged insurgents killed in Sinai’s Bir al-Abd
Egypt's military said it killed 18 suspected Islamist militants in aerial and ground operations in the restive North Sinai region on Tuesday, as part of its battle to quell a long-running insurgency. The army said in a statement that its forces succeeded in foiling...
Libya: Sudan nationals headed to Libya as mercenaries captured at border
Khartoum, July 19, 2020 - Sudanese forces arrested around 160 people on the border with Libya who were en-route to the war-torn neighbouring country to work as "mercenaries", a state-linked paramilitary group said Sunday. "The joint security forces stationed at the...
Libya: Haftar’s supporters still insist on a losing strategy, Egypt ups threats of attack
Benghazi, Libya, July 14, 2020 - A war of words was heating up Tuesday in oil-rich and conflict-torn Libya, where two rival administrations are battling for control and tensions have risen between outside forces Egypt and Turkey. The Libyan parliament aligned with...
Morocco: Four arrested in Nador on suspicion of terrorism
Rabat, July 7, 2020 - Morocco on Tuesday arrested four alleged members of a "terrorist cell" linked to the Islamic State group who had plotted to attack "sensitive sites" in the kingdom, the interior ministry said. The men, aged between 21 and 26, were arrested in...
Libya: Air raids against recaptured Al-Watiya airbase
Tripoli, July 5, 2020 - Libya's UN-recognised government Sunday condemned overnight air raids against a recaptured strategic air base in the rest of the country, alleging they were carried out by a "foreign air force". Forces loyal to the Government of National Accord...
INSURGENCIES & TERRORISM
Egypt’s troubles escalate as terrorism undermines any recovery
The North Africa Journal - April 9, 2017 - At least 36 people were killed today (April 9, 2017) in two attacks against Coptic churches in Egypt. The attacks, which took place in Alexandria and Tanta, were claimed by ISIS and coincided with Palm Sunday, and following...
How the ban on electronics in US/UK bound flights serves two purposes: annoy travelers and reduce airline competition
The North Africa Journal - March 21, 2017: The US imposed a ban on most electronics on flights from Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE. The measure took effect on 21 March, after US authorities required airlines from said countries to...
Egypt: Russian troops in Egypt, near Libya border to help Haftar retake control of oil sites
The North Africa Journal - 14 March 2017 - An unidentified number of Russian troops is reported to have been deployed in an Egyptian airbase near the Libyan border. Various media outlets say the Russian presence was to bring support to the Libyan military commander...
Libya: Egypt claims AQIM participated in seizure of oil-rich town
According to the Egyptian foreign ministry, elements of Al-Qaeda participated in the attack on Libya's oil crescent.
Algeria: Massive weapons cache found near Niger border
MEA Risk Alert: March 5, 2017: The Algerian army has discovered, on 4 March, a massive weapons cache near the Nigerien border in In Guezzam. The cache contained six Kalashnikov machine guns, a FMPK heavy machine gun, a RPG-7 rocket launcher, three Simonov...
Libya: LNA attempts to retake oil crescent area
By MEA Risk: March 5, 2017: The Libyan National Army of General Khalifa Haftar are in the process of retaking Ras Lanuf from the Islamist militia Benghazi Defense Brigades on 4 March. At least 15 soldiers have been killed in the last 48 hours and ten are known to be...
France lends military support to Niger with 80 troops in north Niamey
The North Africa Journal- March 1, 2017: The recent attacks of jihadist groups along the border Mali and Niger are prompting the French military to send more troops allegedly to support the Nigerian army. Up to 80 troops, mostly Special Forces have been deployed in...
Algeria: Police foil suicide attack in Constantine
The North Africa Journal: February 27, 2917: A suicide attack targeting a police station in Bab el-Kantara, in the Algerian province of Constantine, was foiled on February 26, 2017. A suicide bomber was seeking to enter the police station, but was prevented to do so...
Outlook: Yet another cycle of uncertainty for the region
As the armed forces and security services manage to control, to a certain extent, the terror threat, the Greater North Africa region is facing unprecedented political tension, social stress and economic despair. Data for all countries in the North Africa zone,...
Instability in North Africa and Sahel claims over 8,500 deaths in 2016. MEA Risk expects 2017 to be another crisis year
Miami, FL – MEA Risk LLC - The North Africa and Sahel zone witnessed a 16.0% increase in the number of destabilizing critical incidents in 2016 to a total of 11,916, according to MEA Risk LLC. Despite such increase, MEA Risk’s Instability Index, measuring the crisis...