Month: March 2023

Oil on the Jihadi Fire: The Repercussions of a Wagner Group Deployment to Burkina Faso

Abstract: On January 18, 2023, the military regime in Burkina Faso demanded that France withdraw its troops from the country within a month, stoking fears that another African country is set to hire the Kremlin’s favorite mercenaries, the Wagner Group, to help contain Burkina Faso’s worsening jihadi insurgency. There seems to be a very significant probability that the military government in Burkina Faso will indeed hire Wagner in the near future. The leader of Burkina’s junta, Captain Ibrahim Traore, currently faces intense pressure from both within his country and neighboring Mali to bring in Wagner mercenaries to stabilize the security situation. Though it is important to stress that Burkina Faso has already turned to private military companies, any move to hire Wagner Group would be a symptom of the malaise caused by weak and hollowed-out state institutions, corruption, and the increased militarization of Burkinabe society. Nevertheless, a future potential Wagner deployment to Burkina Faso would likely result in a further upsurge in jihadi violence in Burkina Faso given the fact that jihadi attacks, perpetrated by both JNIM and the Islamic State, have increased dramatically across Mali since Wagner’s deployment there just over a year ago. And a Wagner deployment to Burkina Faso would further entrench Russian influence in Africa, complicate Western policy in West Africa, and create humanitarian concerns given Wagner’s reprehensible human rights record.

Iran Upgrades Perceptions Of Saudi Threat – Analysis

If there is one place Saudi Arabia was happy to be low on the totem pole, it was Iran. Those days are over. Strategic thinkers in Tehran have upgraded their perception of the threat posed by the kingdom.

Rather than simply viewing Saudi Arabia as a Middle Eastern extension of the United States and a political rival, Iran today sees the kingdom as a security threat.

An Enduring Challenge: ISIS-linked Foreigners in Türkiye

What’s new? Thousands of foreign nationals who joined ISIS in Syria and Iraq have crossed into Türkiye. Some have been deported. Others have stayed, with some still facing trial for terrorism-related charges and others nearing the end of their prison sentences. Their presence creates a humanitarian and security challenge for Türkiye, currently reeling from the devastating earthquakes of February 2023.

Deux travailleurs humanitaires de la Croix-Rouge enlevés au Mali

Deux travailleurs humanitaires employés par le Comité international de la Croix-Rouge (CICR) ont été enlevés samedi dans le nord du Mali, a annoncé la branche malienne du CICR sur Twitter.

Deux employés du Comité international de la Croix-Rouge (CICR) ont été kidnappés, samedi 4 mars, au Mali, a indiqué la branche malienne de l’ONG sur Twitter.

Mauritanie: quatre jihadistes s’échappent d’une prison

En Mauritanie, quatre jihadistes membres d’Aqmi se sont évadés d’une prison de Nouakchott ce 5 mars 2023, après un échange de tirs qui a fait deux morts parmi les forces de sécurité.

En Mauritanie, quatre terroristes mauritaniens, tous membres d’al-Qaïda au Maghreb islamique (Aqmi), se sont évadés de la grande prison civile de Nouakchott le 5 mars 2023, après avoir tué deux gardes et blessé deux autres.

Au Burkina Faso, une dizaine de civils tués par des groupes terroristes

Au moins douze civils ont été tués, jeudi, lors d’une attaque de groupes terroristes dans le nord du Burkina Faso, a appris l’AFP lundi de sources locales.

Nouvelle attaque au Burkina Faso. Au moins douze civils ont été tués, jeudi 2 mars, lors d’une attaque de groupes terroristes dans le nord du Burkina Faso, a-t-on appris lundi 6 mars de sources locales.

Ending Wars In The Horn Of Africa States – OpEd

Will the wars in the Horn of Africa States ever end? And how would they end? And who are the real protagonists in these wars? Who suffers most in these wars? These are all important questions one should ask oneself, especially in the light of the meaningless wars that continue to mar life and lovies in that part of the world, which did not see a day of peace over the past half a century or even more.

The Complex Interplay Between Globalization And Terrorism: Analysis Of Relationship And Implications For Security Studies

Introduction

Globalization has now covered the entire globe, extending and occurring on the most significant national and international agendas. The process of globalization contains tremendous improvements amongst nations throughout the world, such as technical, economic, cultural, and scientific advancements, but it is also viewed as a danger by many countries.

Nord Stream Sabotage: The Evidence So Far – Analysis

The discovery

On September 26, Swiss-based Nord Stream AG, the operator of the Nord Stream pipelines, informed Danish authorities of a pressure drop at Nordstream 2 landfalls in Russia and Germany. As early as 13:56 Danish local time, the national shipping authority (Søfartsstyrelsen) issued a navigational warning for a sea area southeast of Bornholm after a leak in the Exclusive Economic Zone was discovered.

The Treacherous Triangle Of Syria, Iran, And Russia – Analysis

Both Russia and Iran have deep, multifaceted, and long-standing connections to Syria. During the Cold War, Damascus emerged as the Soviet Union’s most loyal Middle Eastern ally, and the relationship regained vibrancy in the 2000s as Vladimir Putin strove to reestablish Moscow’s regional preeminence. Meanwhile, the 1979 Iranian revolution reversed Tehran’s pro-U.S. orientation. Hafez al-Assad’s Syria was the first Arab state to recognize the Islamic Republic of Iran and the only Arab state (apart from Libya) to support Iran during its 8-year war against Iraq (1980-88). In subsequent decades, Tehran intensified its political, economic, and military ties with Damascus.[1]