Africa

Ansaroul Islam: The Rise and Decline of a Militant Islamist Group in the Sahel

Burkina Faso’s first militant Islamist group, Ansaroul Islam, has faced setbacks, pointing to the weaknesses of violent extremist organizations lacking deep local support and facing sustained pressure.

After years of avoiding militant Islamist violence, Burkina Faso has experienced a rapid growth in attacks since 2016. In 2018, there were 137 such violent events involving 149 fatalities. By mid-2019, militant Islamist groups already had outpaced these numbers with 191 episodes of violence and 324 fatalities. Three groups have been primarily responsible—the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), the Macina Liberation Front (FLM) faction of the Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) coalition, and Ansaroul Islam.

Nord du Burkina Faso : ce que cache le jihad

Les violences jihadistes au Sahel de l’Afrique de l’Ouest se sont propagées dans le nord du Burkina Faso. La réponse de Ouagadougou et ses partenaires doit tenir compte des racines sociales et locales de la crise et non uniquement de ses dimensions religieuses et sécuritaires.

Al-Monitor/Premise poll: Russia’s role seen as negative in Turkey, Yemen, Iraq

The Russian invasion of Ukraine hurt the region economically, as supply chain disruptions and food shortages topped respondents concerns in Turkey, Egypt, Yemen and Iraq

One year after its invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s image has taken a hit in Turkey, Yemen and Iraq, according to the latest Al-Monitor and Premise Data poll released on Thursday.

Tchad: Wagner planifie d’assassiner le général Mahamat Deby, selon Washington

Washington a des preuves que Wagner collabore avec le FACT, un groupe rebelle tchadien basé en Libye, d’après le Wall Street Journal.

Washington —

Selon les services de renseignement américains, le groupe paramilitaire russe Wagner a ourdi un complot visant à assassiner le chef de la junte qui dirige le Tchad, le général Mahamat Idriss Deby.

Africa shouldn’t ignore Russia’s destabilising influence

As a region, Africa may not be interested in the Ukraine war, but the war is interested in Africa.

As the world marks the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, it has been suggested that Africa needs a common approach to the war. So far Russia’s aggression has elicited contrary responses across the continent, as evidenced by the equivocal votes on numerous resolutions at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly – including yesterday’s decision calling for an immediate end to the war.

The Islamic State in West Africa

Despite some successes, the Nigerian armed forces remain a long way from defeating Boko Haram

The death toll continues to mount and other countries in the region are increasingly affected by the violence

Rising Conflict in Libya

There is still public confusion around the health of General Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA).

General Haftar remains in Paris, where he is receiving medical care for an undisclosed condition, with speculation ranging from a stroke to cancer.