North Africa’s Security
Security | Defense | Terrorism
Libya’s Fragile Peace Shaken Again by Local Violence
Tensions are flaring again in Libya, from deadly street battles in Tripoli’s suburbs to violent protests in Sabratha. The killing of a well-known militia leader and the death of a police officer days apart reveal a deeper unraveling—where everyday disputes turn into...
SECURITY & DEFENSE
Egypt: Violent military operation in North Sinai with army saying it killed 73 insurgents
Cairo, Aug 30, 2020 - Egypt's army announced Sunday that more than 70 alleged jihadists have been killed in recent military operations in North Sinai, the location of an insurrection affiliated to the Islamic State group. A statement by the Egyptian army said that the...
Turkey launches military maneuvers as tensions remain high in East Med
Istanbul, Aug 29, 2020 - Turkey on Saturday launched new military drills in the eastern Mediterranean and Greece accused Turkish jets of an incursion as tensions mount in a maritime standoff between the NATO members. The confrontation has reignited a longstanding...
Mali: Four soldiers killed near Mopti
Bamako, Aug 27, 2020 - Four troops were killed and 12 were wounded on Thursday in an ambush in central Mali, the army said, blaming the attack on jihadists who launched an insurgency eight years ago. The troops, from an anti-poaching unit, fell into a trap set by...
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...
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...