Russian-Algerian ties in limbo on Sahel divergences

The worsening ties between Algiers and Bamako unveiled a silently brewing crisis between Algeria and its main arms supplier Russia, which seeks to undermine the west in Africa using a panoply of soft and hard power measures. Algeria has for long claimed to be Russia’s “best friend” in Africa with President Tebboune calling Putin a […]

Libya: Clashes in Janzour expose fragility of security deal

Heavy clashes broke out on Sunday in Janzour, west of Tripoli, between rival armed groups affiliated with Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah’s Government of National Unity (GNU). Fighting erupted after Mahmoud Boujaafar’s Joint Force stormed the Sixth Brigade headquarters led by Munir Al-Sweih, sparking a counterattack with medium and heavy weapons. The violence forced the […]

Morocco Seeks Acquisition of Russia’s S-400 Air Defense System

Security and defense cooperation featured prominently in the 11 cooperation agreements that were signed on the occasion of the visit of Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev to Morocco. A well-informed source told Moroccan media that the country is interested in acquiring the mighty S-400 air defense systems from Russia. After months of media speculation about […]