North Africa’s Security
Security | Defense | Terrorism
North Africa Defense: Morocco Gets Surface-to-Air Missiles, Algeria-Mauritania Sign Defense Pact
April 2025 has seen a notable series of military developments across North Africa, where rivalries and competition for influence are adding more stress.From U.S. missile sales to Morocco to new defense agreements between Algeria and Mauritania, the regional defense landscape is worrying but geopolitical competition will likely continue to exacerbate tensions.
SECURITY & DEFENSE
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...
Niger: Concern over fraud in defense purchasing
Niamey, June 23, 2020 - Niger's state prosecutor on Tuesday reported evidence of fraud and other crimes in a military procurement scandal that had cost the poor West African state nearly 50 million euros, although the sum was less than half the amount initially...
Egypt amplifies instability in Libya with threat to attack
Tripoli, June 21, 2020 - Libya's UN-recognised Government of National Accord on Sunday denounced Egypt's warning of military intervention in Libya, labelling it a "declaration of war". "This is a hostile act, direct interference and amounts to a declaration of war,"...
INSURGENCIES & TERRORISM
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...
As counter-terror campaign intensifies in Algeria, Libya’s weapons making their way into the country
In the first four months of 2016, the Algerian army has killed 31 Islamist insurgents, and captured 33 others nationwide. Furthermore, an arsenal of war big enough to wreck havoc was siezed, including over 300 war weapons were retrieved, 202 hideouts were destroyed...
Tunisia in Retrospect and the Tough Choices Ahead
In one year, Tunisia has been tormented by no less than five large scale, dramatic terrorist attacks all perpetrated by the Islamic State. It all started on March 18, 2015, the day that two « lone wolves » stormed the Bardo museum of Tunis and opened fire on a group...
BP and Statoil Reducing their Staffs in Algeria: Consequences on Business Continuity
Although the recent terror attempt on an Algerian gas site, signed by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) caused no physical damage, it has had without any doubt some psychological impact on jittery companies and on authorities scrambling to secure the area....
Mortar shell attack on an Algerian gas field, no casualties
According to MEA Risk sources, an insurgent group has attacked a gas field exploited by the Algerian state-owned energy company Sonatrach, Statoil and BP in the In Salah gas site of Krechba, in the Saharian province of Ghardaia. Two homemade mortar shells were fired;...
Dozens Killed in Tunisia Confrontation
In what is one of the most daring border attacks to date, early this morning a group of men, coming from Libya, attacked the border town of Ben Guerdane in Tunisia. While Tunisia largely suffered from urban-style terror attacks, as militants have been confined in...
Libya Crisis Update: Latest Development
The crisis in Libya is accelerating. MEA Risk Trackers and Analysts say that most major militias have joined the fight against the Islamic State organization ever since the US bombing of an IS site in Sebratha on Friday. The contribution of the various militias hint...
Libya: Western troops confirmed on the ground in Libya
MEA Risk trackers are reporting that Libyan officials confirmed that a French combat squad comprised of 15 troops has been operating out of Benghazi’s Benina air base for more than 2 months, and have helped the pro-government Libyan National Army conduct 2 operations...