Russia’s Presidential Representative Meets Syrian Parties Including SDC

The SDC called for ending the Syrian tragedy and finding a sustainable solution via an intra-Syrian dialogue, according to North Press.

On Thursday, a number of Syrian parties and figures met with Mikhail Bogdanov, Special Representative of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin for the Middle East and North Africa and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. They discussed reviving the political process in Syria.

Niger: 8 terroristes tués, 32 complices aux arrêts, 3 otages libérés

L’Armée nigérienne dans son dernier bulletin des opérations dans le cadre de la lutte contre le terrorisme a dit avoir neutralisé huit terroristes et mis aux arrêts 32 de leurs complices. Le rapport note également que trois otages ont été libérés et 39 orpailleurs clandestins interpellés, en plus de nombreux matériels des assaillants saisis.

Wagner is being used in Africa as a proxy to target civilians

The issue here is not which combatant the Russian military company is backing but its treatment of civilians.

The governments of the Central African Republic (CAR) and Mali are using Wagner, the shadowy Russian private military company believed to be close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, as an agent for attacks against civilians, new research suggests.

Terrorists’ use of tech in West Africa must be contained

With violent extremists skilfully exploiting digital platforms, Africa should pressure tech companies to deal with terrorism online.

When al-Shabaab attacked the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya in 2013, the group live-blogged the terrifying event on Twitter, taunting the authorities who were struggling to end the siege. It represented a chilling milestone in the weaponisation of social media platforms and demonstrated the audacity and adaptive nature of Africa’s armed groups.

Putin’s Next Move in Ukraine

For the first time in the war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin must contend with the serious prospect of losing it. Early setbacks around Kyiv and Chernigov had been balanced by Russian gains in the south and the east; they could be justified as tactical retreats and thus as Russian choices, regardless of whether they truly were. By contrast, the near rout of Russian soldiers in the Kharkiv region on September 10—and the rapid reconquest by Ukrainian forces of territory spanning some 2,000 square miles in the east and south—clearly showed that Ukraine was on top and that Russian troops may continue to fall to future such offensives. Ukraine’s Kharkiv offensive destroyed the illusion of Russian invincibility. It has also heralded a new stage in the West’s expectations. Suddenly, Western leaders and strategists have been able to contemplate Ukraine gaining the upper hand in this war. This shift in perspective seems certain to unleash a new dynamic of military support for Ukraine. The argument that Ukraine should sue for peace, rather than keep fighting, has been refuted.

Conflict Trends Update

AFGHANISTAN

The Taliban and Pakistani forces clashed on Wednesday in the eastern border province of Paktia as the Taliban accused Islamabad of erecting a military post on the border. Crisis Group expert Graeme Smith says tensions between the sides have been simmering for months and have occasionally escalated into armed clashes. Pakistan has grown frustrated with the sanctuary that Afghanistan’s new rulers have afforded the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), which is orchestrating a deadly cross-border campaign in Pakistan. Islamabad and the Taliban also disagree over the Durand Line, which the Taliban rejects as the official border and Pakistan continues to fence. The skirmishes take place as Taliban also battles the Islamic State’s local branch and armed resistance forces in the north.

The Tide Turns in Ukraine

Over the last ten days, Ukrainians have achieved astonishing gains over the Russian army. For six months, the Kharkiv region, in Ukraine’s east, has suffered through battle and Russian occupation. Now, Ukrainians are driving retreating Russian units as far as the pre-war border.

Putin Has a New Opposition—and It’s Furious at Defeat in Ukraine

Right-wing nationalists are spreading a dangerous “stab-in-the-back” myth to explain Russia’s crushing defeats.

A new Russian protest movement is coalescing, but it’s neither pro-democracy nor anti-war. Instead, it’s the most extreme of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s supporters, who have grown increasingly furious at the unfolding military disaster for Russia in the six-month-long war in Ukraine. They want Putin to escalate the war, use more devastating weapons, and hit Ukrainian civilians even more mercilessly. And they’ve openly attacked the Russian military and political leadership for supposedly holding back Russia’s full might—even as they rarely mention Putin by name.