North Africa’s Security
Security | Defense | Terrorism
The US Africa Policy: Don’t Expect Anything New
U.S. administrations, whether Republican or Democrat, have historically shown limited focus on Africa, prioritizing counterterrorism over development. With recent geopolitical shifts, some are calling for a more balanced approach, emphasizing stability and economic growth over military presence.
SECURITY & DEFENSE
Niger: Insurgents release kidnapped aid workers
Ten Niger humanitarian workers abducted by suspected jihadists as they were distributing food have been released a week after they were taken in the southwest of the country, a local governor said on Thursday. The workers for local group APIS, a partner of the UN...
France’s massive challenges in the Sahel
France is increasingly optimistic about the effectiveness of its anti-jihadist campaign in the Sahel, but experts caution that short-term successes will not by themselves bring lasting victory. President Emmanuel Macron will travel to the Mauritanian capital...
Burkina Faso: From favored tourist destination to a hotbed of terrorism
By Armel Baily with Patrick Fort in Abidjan: Little more than five years ago, Burkina Faso was on the up, priding itself as a favored tourist destination for well-heeled Europeans. Today, the country seems to be visibly sinking, battered by a jihadist revolt that has...
Algeria: Two more troops killed in counterinsurgency sweep in Medea
Algiers, June 28, 2020 - Two Algerian soldiers, including an officer, were killed when a bomb exploded during an army operation in the north of the country, the defence ministry said Sunday. Captain Fateh Bensmail and Sergeant Zakaria Khaldi were killed Saturday...
Libya: Sudan captures alleged mercenaries headed to Libya
Sudan said Sunday it has arrested 122 of its nationals as they headed to neighbouring Libya to fight as "mercenaries", state media reported. Libya's UN-recognised unity government has long accused Sudan of sending fighters to back military strongman Khalifa Haftar who...
Libya: Another mass grave found in Tarhuna
Tripoli, June 29, 2020 - Nine bodies have been found in another mass grave in the Libyan town of Tarhuna after fighters loyal to eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar withdrew, pro-government forces said Monday. Tarhuna, southeast of Tripoli, served as the main staging...
Libya: Reports of foreign mercenaries in Sharara oil field
Russian and other foreign mercenaries have entered a key oil field in southern Libya, the conflict-hit country's National Oil Corporation said Friday. The mercenaries drove into Al-Sharara oilfield in a convoy of vehicles late Thursday, the NOC said in a statement...
Sahel: Civilian death toll from central Mali’s crises nears 600 so far this year
Geneva, June 26, 2020 - Unrest in central Mali, plagued by jihadist attacks and inter-community violence, has killed 580 civilians so far this year, the United Nations said Friday. Michelle Bachelet, the UN's high commissioner for human rights, said security was...
Niger: Humanitarian workers kidnapped in Tillaberi
Niamey, June 25, 2020 - Armed jihadists abducted 10 humanitarian workers as they were distributing food in a village in southwestern Niger, their NGO said Thursday. The assailants drove into the village aboard motorbikes on Wednesday afternoon and told the victims to...
Burkina Faso army raids insurgent locations near border with Ivory Coast
Ouagadougou, June 23, 2020 - Burkina Faso's security forces said on Tuesday they had destroyed two jihadist bases in the north and east of the country and arrested two suspects near the border with the Ivory Coast. A gendarmerie unit on Saturday "dismantled a...
INSURGENCIES & TERRORISM
Moscow’s possible lifting of arms embargo on Libya could trigger new violence, setback to Western interests
The North Africa Journal | Jan. 10, 2017 | Hakim Briki: For the period of January 02 to 08, 2017, there were 30 critical incidents in Libya, resulting in 38 deaths. As a result, the MEA Risk Incidents Index for the period was 2.2. The index measures the extent of the...
Tunisia braces for return of militants from war zones, while at odds with Germany over deportation of Berlin attack perpetrator
January 10, 2017 | The North Africa Journal | By Hakim Briki | UN data suggests that some 4,000 Tunisian nationals are fighting alongside Islamic insurgency groups in war zones. They are between 1,000 and 1,500 in Libya, 200 in Iraq, 60 in Mali and 50 in Yemen. The...
Morocco sustains counter-terror campaign, as Prime Minister struggles to set up new cabinet
January 10, 2017: The North Africa Journal: By Hakim Briki: The CIA has warned a number of countries, including Morocco, of a risk of Berlin-like attacks conducted by Islamic State militants in the next few weeks. Local media says the CIA informed the Moroccan...
French military presence in Africa unlikely to change post 2017 presidential elections
January 2017: Despite a deadly year of terror in France, partly tied to the country’s involvement in major conflict zones, Paris is looking to maintain such involvement, and may even increase it. The upcoming presidential elections are not likely to witness a major...
Egypt: Explosion in Maadi, Cairo, several injured
An explosion apparently from a grenade thrown by an attacker was reported on Sunday evening on the Autostrad road near the affluent neighborhood of Maadi in Cairo. The attack injured several people, although authorities refuse to release figures.
Turkey maintains pressure on Islamic State in and out of its territory
Battling on various fronts, Turkey is also facing an aggressive Islam State, which has been responsible for many terror attacks with Turkey. Over the past couple of days, the Turkish military has been increasing its anti-IS campaign both within Turkey proper and...
Morocco remains a moderate risk country, seeks to contain militant groups
Morocco faces a moderate level of security risk, placing it as an intermediate risk country. Indeed the Kingdom faces several risk sources but it has managed, thus far, to successfully control them. From October 25 to November 24, Morocco’s MEA Risk Index was 1.44,...
Libya: Dire Situation for Civilians in Benghazi
On September 30, 2016, Amnesty International said fears are growing for hundreds of civilians who are trapped in a Benghazi neighborhood which faces intensified fighting after several months under military blockade, Amnesty International said today. The organization...
Mali: Ansar Dine claims kidnapping of Red Cross staffers
Kidal, Mali. April 21, 2016. The pro-Al Qaeda group Ansar Dine, led by the Malian Jihadist Iyad Ag Ghali, has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of three Malian collaborators of the International Red Cross in the region of Kidal. Nouredine Ag Mohamed, a leader...
Libya: UK Air service to intervene in Sirte in upcoming weeks
April, 25, 2016. According to the UK Defense Secretary Michael Fallon, members of the British Special Air Service will join US, French and Italian counterparts in an intervention against the Islamic State in the city of Sirte, where at least 5,000 members of the...