Africa International

Al-Qaida claims to kill Russian mercenaries in Mali as French forces complete withdrawal

Al-Qaida’s affiliate in Mali claimed Monday (15 August) it had killed four mercenaries from Russia’s private military firm, Wagner Group, as France announced its forces have completed their withdrawal from the conflict-torn country. The media unit for Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), said in a statement its fighters clashed with the Russian mercenaries Saturday […]

Africa International

Mali: Al-Qaeda affiliate claims deadly attack

An armed group in Mali affiliated with al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on the country’s main Kati military base near the capital city Bamako, which it said was a response to governmental collaboration with Russian mercenaries. Friday’s (22 July) raid on the Kati base that killed at least one soldier and wounded […]

Africa Europe International

Mali: France and its European partners to decide on the future of the Takuba force

Following the decision of the Malian authorities to expel the French ambassador in Bamako, the French government spokesman, Gabriel Attal, said on Tuesday that the “situation cannot remain as it is”. According to him, Paris and its European allies are giving themselves until mid-February to rethink their military device in Mali. Gabriel Attal said that […]

Africa International

Death of former Malian president Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta

Former Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita died Sunday in Bamako at the age of 76, a year and a half after being overthrown by the military, which is now defying part of the international community. Begun in 2013, the presidency of IBK- as he was commonly called – largely coincided with the turmoil in which […]

Algeria Headlines Morocco

Morocco Gleaned Necessary Backing for Return to AU, Algerian PM

Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal has acknowledged that Morocco has gained the necessary backing for its return to the African Union (AU). The Algerian top diplomat conceded that Morocco’s return to the AU has become inevitable, as it has secured the necessary votes from the majority of African countries. Speaking at a press conference held […]

Headlines Mauritania

Mauritania frees Ansar Dine spokesman, concerns raised

Mauritania has released the former spokesman of Ansar Dine, Sidi Mohamed Ould Mohamed Ould Bouamama, aka Sanda Ould Bouamama, from prison raising fears that he would engage again within the extremist group and resume participation in terror activities. Mali had issued an international arrest warrant against him for alleged crimes he had committed during the […]

Africa Features Headlines International Morocco

Morocco’s King to Revive Inter-Malian Dialog

King Mohammed VI of Morocco who started on Tuesday a visit to Mali, first step of a four-stop Africa trip that will also take him to Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Gabon will undoubtedly try to give a new momentum to dialog between the Bamako government and the Tuareg rebels, part of his ceaseless efforts and […]

Africa Features International

Red Cross Workers in Mali Abducted by Al Qaeda-Linked Islamists

A Red Cross team working in northern Mali has been kidnapped by an al Qaeda-linked Islamist group known as the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), a spokesperson for the militants said earlier this week. The MUJAO official also told the media by telephone fromm the country’s capital, Bamako, that the members […]

Op Eds Opinions

Forgotten Aspects in the War Against AQIM

The killing of three French journalists in northern Malian region of Kidal in early November 2013 is indicative of the ability of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) to conduct terrorist attacks in the region despite French military presence. Similarly, the announcement of the creation of a new terrorist group called Al Mourabitoun out of […]

Africa International

The View from Paris : Africa Should ‘Ensure its Own Security’

Africa must first “ensure its own security” so it can realize its “destiny”, asserted French President François Hollande when addressing some 40 African leaders as a key Franco-African security summit opened Friday in Paris. French President Hollande also pledged to help with the creation of a special African rapid-reaction force that would train as many […]