North Africa’s Security
Security | Defense | Terrorism
Morocco Busts ‘Lions of the Caliphate’ Terror Cell After Yearlong Probe
Moroccan security services arrested 12 operatives of the so-called “Lions of the Caliphate in the Maghreb Al-Aqsa” after a yearlong investigation. Authorities say the terror cell, linked to Daesh in the Sahel, had a weapons cache in Errachidia and planned attacks in Morocco.
SECURITY & DEFENSE
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...
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...
INSURGENCIES & TERRORISM
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...
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...