Tag

Sahel

All articles tagged with #sahel

world11 days ago•2 min saved

U.S. and Nigeria say ISIS leader Abu-Bilal al-Minuki killed in Africa raid

President Trump says U.S. and Nigerian forces killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, ISIS’s second-in-command globally, in a meticulously planned operation in Nigeria. Al-Minuki, a Nigerian national who led ISIS activity in Africa’s Sahel and was sanctioned in 2023, represented a high-profile target as ISIS remains active in parts of Africa despite territorial losses. Trump had previously ordered strikes on ISIS targets in Nigeria last Christmas, amid ongoing Islamist violence in the country which Nigeria’s government says it does not persecute on religious grounds.

via CBS News|

#isis #nigeria #sahel

world17 days ago•183 min saved

Kidal's fall tests Moscow's grip on the Sahel

Tuareg rebels reclaimed Kidal from Russia-backed forces, delivering a major reputational blow to Putin in the Sahel as Moscow’s Africa Corps withdraws amid jeers from the very rebels it was sent to crush. Analysts say Russia’s security support is transactional and cannot address the region’s deeper drivers of militancy, prompting Mali to diversify partnerships while still relying on Moscow for frontline security.

via CNN|

#kidal #mali #russia

africa23 days ago•7 min saved

Mali’s junta leader takes defence minister post after attack kills predecessor

Gen. Assimi Goïta has been appointed Mali’s defence minister after the previous holder, Sadio Camara, was killed in a suicide truck bombing, a move aimed at consolidating power amid a mounting jihadist-separatist offensive and a broad security crisis in the Sahel.

via BBC|

#africa #assimi-goita #jihadist-attacks

world28 days ago•6 min saved

Russia’s Sahel gamble tested as Mali endures attacks and Africa Corps withdraws

Mali’s military government says the security situation is under control after a weekend of large-scale attacks against Malian bases and Bamako, with Russia’s Africa Corps providing air support before withdrawing from Kidal; analysts question Moscow’s influence as Malian forces fight Tuareg and al-Qaeda-linked fighters, and the death of Defence Minister Sadio Camara highlights the fragility of the Russia-backed security partnership in the Sahel.

via Al Jazeera|

#africa-corps #mali #russia

world1 month ago•3 min saved

Mali rocked as defense minister killed in coordinated insurgent blitz

Mali’s defence minister Sadio Camara was killed when a suicide car bomb struck his Kati residence as Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and allied groups launched a wave of coordinated attacks across the country, including near Bamako airport and in Mopti, Sevare and Gao; the government declared two days of mourning, the UN condemned the violence, and analysts called it one of the largest such assaults in years, with the fate of Kidal uncertain amid military repositioning and debates over Russia’s role.

via The Guardian|

#insurgency #jnim #kidal

world1 month ago•9 min saved

Coordinated Attacks Roil Mali, Deepening Sahel Security Crisis

Mali faced a coordinated, multi-site assault by unidentified armed groups including JNIM and Tuareg rebels, hitting Bamako, Kati, Sevaré and northern towns; the military said it repelled the attack and killed hundreds, with unconfirmed reports that Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed. JNIM claimed responsibility for attacks around Bamako and in the north, and Russian mercenaries were reportedly involved. The episode underscores a deepening security crisis under military rule and highlights tense regional dynamics in the Sahel.

via Al Jazeera|

#bamako #goita #jnim

environment1 month ago•16 min saved

Africa's Great Green Wall: A grand dream unraveling in the desert

An in-depth look at Africa's Great Green Wall shows a multi-country, multi-billion-dollar effort intended to halt desertification, but years of funding and planning have yielded minimal ecological benefits: by 2020 only about 4% of land was restored and by 2023 just 13% of pledged funds had been disbursed, with problems like poor planning, weak local participation, and fragmented financing limiting impact, though a few oases and farms offer temporary gains and some donors remain cautiously hopeful.

via NPR|

#desertification #environment #funding

world3 months ago•2 min saved

Russia says its forces helped repel Niger’s Niamey airport attack

Russia confirms its African Corps helped Nigerien forces repel an IS-linked attack on Niamey’s main airport, with 20 attackers killed and four Nigerien soldiers wounded; Niger’s junta welcomed Moscow’s involvement and the leader later visited a Russian base.

via Vanguard News|

#airport-attack #niamey #niger

world3 months ago•2 min saved

Niger joins eight African nations under the U.S. Level 4 travel alert

Niger is now on the U.S. Level 4 travel advisory, raising Africa’s Level 4 countries to eight due to terrorism, kidnapping, violence, civil unrest, and weak emergency/healthcare capacity. Outside Niamey, foreigners require military escorts; U.S. staff must travel in armored vehicles and follow strict curfews, with a state of emergency in effect. A recent airport attack highlights elevated risks. Other Level 4 African states include Libya, Mali, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia, and parts of the Sahel, signaling broader insecurity affecting travel, investment and diplomacy across the region.

via Business Insider Africa|

#level4 #niger #sahel

africa3 months ago•5 min saved

Gunfire and blasts rock Niamey’s airport area amid Niger unrest

Gunfire and explosions were heard near Niamey’s international airport in Niger’s capital early Thursday; casualties and the cause are unclear. The airport houses an air force base and is close to the presidential palace, amid Niger’s ongoing jihadist violence and regional security efforts led by the junta with allies in the Sahel.

via France 24|

#africa #attack #jihad

world5 months ago•2 min saved

Sahel Leaders Pledge Large-Scale Offensive Against Extremists

Leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have announced the formation of a joint military battalion to escalate their fight against extremist groups in the Sahel, signaling a shift towards active military operations and a strategic move to deter external intervention amid regional tensions and their recent withdrawal from ECOWAS.

via Business Insider Africa|

#extremist-violence #joint-battalion #military-alliance

world1 year ago•1 min saved

US and African Forces Collaborate Amid Rising Terror Threats and Chinese Influence

A U.S. military general warns that the Sahel region in Africa has become the global epicenter of terrorism, with groups like al-Qaeda's JNIM expanding rapidly and increasing their ability to attack the US homeland, amid declining US aid and shifting military strategies in Africa.

via ABC News|

#africa #military #sahel

international-relations1 year ago•2 min saved

Chad Halts Military Partnership with France

Chad has announced the termination of its military cooperation agreement with France, marking a significant shift in its foreign relations. This decision follows a visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and reflects Chad's desire to assert its sovereignty. Despite ending the defense accord, Chad still hosts around a thousand French troops and considers France an essential partner. The move is seen as a 'historic turning point' and comes amid Chad's efforts to strengthen ties with Russia.

via FRANCE 24 English|

#chad #france #international-relations

climate-change2 years ago•2 min saved

"Human-Induced Climate Change Linked to Deadly West African Heatwave"

A study by World Weather Attribution (WWA) has linked the deadly Sahel heatwave in Mali and Burkina Faso to "human-induced" climate change, with temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius and causing a significant increase in deaths and hospitalizations. The extreme heat, described as a once-in-a-200-year event, was exacerbated by factors such as rapid urbanization and loss of green spaces. The study emphasized the need for countries to develop heat action plans and strengthen critical infrastructure to adapt to the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme heat events in the region.

via Al Jazeera English|

#burkina-faso #climate-change #heatwave

international-relations-military-cooperation2 years ago•2 min saved

"Niger Expels US Troops Amid Geopolitical Concerns"

Niger's decision to end a military pact with the US and turn to Russia for military assistance reflects a broader pushback against Western powers in the region, accusing them of seeking to control African governments and benefit from resources without effectively combating jihadist insurgents. However, this move may lead to a deterioration in the security situation, as the departure of the US and its drone capabilities, along with the isolation from regional blocs, leaves Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso lacking crucial support in tackling transnational security threats. The reliance on Russia for military assistance also raises uncertainty, as Moscow's military priorities are primarily focused on the war in Ukraine, potentially diverting resources from the Sahel.

via Semafor|

#international-relations-military-cooperation #military-cooperation #niger