Africa

Le blocage de la ville de Tombouctou par les djihadistes du Groupe de soutien à l’islam et aux musulmans fait exploser les prix des denrées alimentaires.

C’est un blocus qui fait souffrir les habitants de Tombouctou, dans le nord du Mali. De sources sécuritaires et locales au sein de la société civile de la ville contactées par la DW, les djihadistes du Groupe de soutien à l’islam et aux musulmans, le JNIM, seraient alliés localement avec les touaregs de la Coordination des mouvements de l’Azawad (CMA) et encerclent la ville de Tombouctou. De son côté, la CMA dément* cette information et assure qu’elle n’est ni de près ni de loin associée au JNIM.

The United States warned Friday that the string of military takeovers in Africa’s Sahel region will hamper the fight against terrorism and demanded that Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers deny safe haven to terrorist groups including al-Qaida and the Islamic State.

The junta in Niger claimed deteriorating security was a justification for their taking over, but attacks by jihadist groups affiliated with both Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State on civilians and military targets have continued since the military takeover.

A leader of the jihadist group Islamic State (EI), the “planner and sponsor” of three deadly attacks in 2018 in the capital Tripoli, has been captured, the head of Libya’s Government of National Unity announced on Thursday evening.

Niger has been hit by multiple jihadist attacks since its president was overthrown last month, but observers caution against concluding that a long-running insurgency is shifting into higher gear as post-coup uncertainty mounts.

Niamey, Niger, August 19, 2023: Thousands of young people queue to register to volunteer to defend their country as part of a volunteer initiative. General Abdourahmane Tchiani, head of the Presidential Guards Unit, has repeatedly warned ECOWAS and unnamed Western nations against stepping in. “We once again reiterate to ECOWAS or any other adventurer our firm determination to defend our fatherland”.

Whilst some may cheer on the anti-France feelings seen in protests in Niger, the military coup is unlikely to provide the people with relief from the current poverty, let alone put the country on a democratic path, argues Yasser Louati.

The Islamic State has exploited the chaos in Libya to extend its influence.

Libyan authorities have arrested an Islamic State leader suspected of having planned three deadly attacks in Libya’s capital in 2018, the UN-backed government announced on Thursday.