North Africa’s Security
Security | Defense | Terrorism
Sahel: Russia Reorganizes in Mali: Wagner Withdraws, Africa Corps Moves In
Russia has replaced the Wagner Group in Mali with its new Africa Corps, signaling a shift toward a more controlled and official military presence focused on training and intelligence. While the tactics may look different, Moscow’s long-term ambitions in the region remain very much the same—just better dressed.
SECURITY & DEFENSE
Tension continues to rise in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea with all parties flexing the muscles
Istanbul, Aug 27, 2020 - Turkey on Thursday extended its controversial Mediterranean gas exploration mission and scheduled new navy drills as its row with Greece and the EU over energy and borders threatened to spiral out of control. The Turkish navy said it was...
Espionage: Former head of Parisian airport’s police info unit accused of spying for Morocco
Créteil, France, Aug 25, 2020 - A French border policeman will stand trial for transferring hundreds of highly confidential documents on wanted people to Moroccan secret services in exchange for luxurious holidays abroad, judicial sources told AFP Tuesday. The...
Breaking: Mutiny leaders announce arrest of president and Prime Minister
Developing story: Mutineering soldiers in Mali on Tuesday detained President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse, one of their leaders said. "We can tell you that the president and the prime minister are under our control," the leader, who requested...
Libya: Turkey and Qatar intensify their involvement in Libya
Qatar and Turkey have signed an accord to send military advisers and instructors for the armed forces of Libya's Government of National Accord, the UN-recognised GNA said. "We have reached an agreement with Turkish Foreign Minister Hulusi Akar and Qatar's (minister)...
Sahel: Fears of a soldiers’ mutiny in Mali as political crisis lingers
Bamako, Aug 18, 2020 - Gunfire broke out at a key army base near Mali's capital Bamako on Tuesday, officials and witnesses said, triggering fears of a mutiny in the crisis-stricken Sahel state. Details of the events were sketchy, but the sources said the soldiers...
Libya: Foreign countries ‘continue to massively arm Libya’ says Germany’s top diplomat
Tripoli, Aug 17, 2020 - German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, visiting war-torn Libya's capital Monday, warned of a "deceptive calm" since fighting stalled around Sirte, the central hometown of fallen dictator Moamer Kadhafi. Outside powers are "continuing to massively...
Mali: How Mali security services sabotaged peace
Aug 14, 2020 - United Nations experts have accused senior army and intelligence officials in Mali of deliberately obstructing a shaky 2015 peace accord, originally designed to reduce violence in the war-torn West African country. The revelations appear in an expert...
Regional affairs: Tensions rise in Eastern Mediterranean Sea
France said Thursday it was "temporarily reinforcing" its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean Sea amid tensions between neighbours Greece and Turkey over recently-discovered gas reserves. The French military said two Rafale jets would arrive Thursday on the...
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...
INSURGENCIES & TERRORISM
Algeria reinforces troops in southeast border, as crisis deepens in south Libya
The North Africa Journal - April 27, 2017: Although Algeria has been deploying more military assets along its western and southern borders, its biggest concern by far these days remains the potential for incursion of all sorts of militants from Libya. The Algerian...
Tunisia’s female Jihadists
The North Africa Journal - April 24, 2017 - The Tunisian authorities and the general population remain highly concerned about the thousands of their nationals who have joined the Islamic State (IS) to fight in the hot spots of Libya and Syria. As the noose tightens...
Egypt: Death toll reaches 49, as government declares state of emergency
The North Africa Journal - April 10, 2017 - President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi declared a three-months state of emergency across the country following the two church attacks that left at least 49 dead. The attacks were claimed by the Islamic State according to the Amaq...
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...